Premature birth risk can be lowered

Sydney, November 28: A major breakthrough has been achieved in the study of foetal medicine at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital. Doctors believe that with this discovery, the risk of premature and still birth can be reduced.

Scientists at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research have identified a protein which is present in the blood of pregnant mothers. The level of this protein can help in determining if the baby is at a risk of being born malnourished.

It has been found that one in 100 mothers with diminished levels of angiopoetin-2 protein undergo the problem of an undernourished placentadefine during pregnancy.

Malnourished babies have to face many health related problems in later life. These include difficulty in learning and problems related to the heart. Also, such children have a stunted growth.

Head of maternal foetal medicine, Professor Jonanthan Morris explained that earlier the improper growth of the foetus was detected almost after 30 weeks of pregnancy. The only reliable treatment has been an early delivery, as this increases the hope of the baby’s survival.

But with the latest discovery, doctors will be able to measure protein levels in the blood of expectant mothers after they are ten weeks into pregnancy.

Morris said, “Those women who have low levels of this protein are destined to have pregnancies that end with babies being born very small, poorly nourished, at risk of still birth, short-term and indeed long-term problems.”

Foetal growth methods will be used to treat mothers who have low levels of the protein. This would include the use of anti-clotting agents that can help improve blood flow through placenta.

Added New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Health Mr. Della Bosca, “The important issue here is that the scale of our public health system, the data that we collect is what has enabled Professor Morris to be able to utilize his discoveries and apply them generally across the field.”