Infants born before 37 weeks may be born with serious health problems and have higher risk of infections, developmental problems, breathing problems, and death (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Strategies to reduce preterm births include promoting adequate birth spacing, helping pregnant people quit smoking, and providing high-quality medical care for pregnant patients (Healthy People 2030).  

Considerations for Equitable Approaches: Nationally, there are racial and ethnic differences in preterm birth rates, with higher rates among non-Hispanic Black births. In addition to medical conditions and behavioral factors (e.g., tobacco use, substance use, stress), known factors that may increase the likelihood of early delivery include social, personal, and economic characteristics such as race and income. Exploring broader social policies to improve the health of pregnant people, particularly in African American and other communities at high risk, could reduce preterm birth and associated disparities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).    

Inclusive Language Recommendations: As not all people who are pregnant identify as women, recommendations for more gender-inclusive language include using "pregnant people" and "pregnant patients" or other wording as applicable when referring to general recommendations for pregnancy (National Institutes of Health).