Preventing Premature Births on Horizon

Premature babies are a serious global problem.  It’s estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely and over a million of them die.  Treatable infections are a significant cause of premature births.  Scientists at the Imperial College London are working on a noninvasive, inexpensive test to identify mothers at risk – with results in just three minutes.  Ideally, mothers would be tested at 12 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.  The test is in its early development, but doctors are hopeful it’ll be available to women all over the world.  In the US, researchers recently announced two new blood tests have been developed that also may detect potential premature risks.  Let’s pray they’ll all be useful in protecting the lives of countless babies around the world.