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UK Wedding News

11/10/2013

1 In 10 Older Mums Give Birth Premature

Official figures have revealed that one in 10 mothers aged 40 and over gives birth to a premature baby.

It also found that older mums are 50% are more likely to give birth too soon compared with younger women.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that, in 2011, 10.1% of babies born to women aged 40 or over were delivered before 37 weeks. This is an increase from 9.5% in 2007.

For mothers aged between 25 and 29, the figure is 6.7%.

The report added that the number of live births to mothers aged 40 and over has more than quadrupled over the past 30 years, from 6,519 in 1982 to 29,994 in 2012.

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It said that part of the reason for the higher percentage of older mothers giving birth prematurely could be because they are more likely to have twins or triplets.

In 2011, 6.2% of babies born to mothers aged 40 or over were multiple births, compared with just 1.2% of babies born to mothers in their teens.

For single births, only 5.6% are premature, compared with more than half of babies in multiple pregnancies.

Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "These figures support our calls for enough midwives to provide care to the increasing number of older mothers who need more time, attention and monitoring throughout their pregnancy.

"It demonstrates that births are becoming increasingly complex as more older women give birth, along with other issues such as obesity.

"This also demonstrates the need for continuity of care for women, which will reap benefits for older women who tend to have more complicated pregnancies.

"These women also need extra care after birth as they have a small baby or babies."

(JP/IT)

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"Official figures have revealed that one in 10 mothers aged 40 and over gives birth to a premature baby."