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Editor:

A stunning increase in preterm delivery — both intended and unintended — has been happening over the past few decades.

Preterm delivery can dramatically increase the risk of Cerebral Palsy in the child.

There appear to be two procedures that affect this increase.

The first reason is elective induced preterm delivery.
A normal pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks, measured from last menstrual period (LMP).

Many women and couples have decided to push delivery of their babies earlier and earlier to accommodate their personal wishes, apparently unaware that the last few weeks, and days, of pregnancy are critical to complete development of many body organs, such as lungs and brain.

One major consequence of early preterm delivery can be Cerebral Palsy.

Unfortunately, many physicians have ‘gone along’ with these wishes, possibly to the detriment of the babies.

Nationally, the “39-Week Initiative” is spreading to encourage hospitals to write policies that ban elective deliveries prior to Week 39.

Slowly, the public is learning about the dangers of early, and very early, preterm delivery, and are realizing that allowing the baby to pick its own birth-date is “worth the weight”.

The second reason is induced abortion.
There are presently well over one hundred peer-reviewed published studies suggesting a strong connection between abortion and unintended preterm delivery/birth of subsequent children.

Some of these studies can be found at this website.

 

Dr. Ellice Lieberman and her Harvard University colleagues reported that Black-American women in Boston with more that one (1) prior abortion nearly double (1.91 times) their risk of premature deliveries.

Dr. Lieberman’s study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and her study has never been debunked by Dr. David A. Grimes, abortion ‘safety’ defender.[1, Lieberman]

Neither has Dr. David A. Grimes ever debunked the FACT that every ‘suction’ (aka vacuum aspiration) abortion performed on a Black-American woman violates the 1947 Nuremberg Code, since there are zero published animal studies of ‘suction’ abortion.[2, Rooney]

Premature delivery inflicts raised risk of CP (Cerebral Palsy) in a subsequent newborn baby.

It is very probable that any M.D. who has performed thousands of IAs (Induced Abortions) has caused cases of CP (Cerebral Palsy) to babies delivered in pregnancies subsequent to the ‘terminated’ pregnancies.

This applies to Dr. David A. Grimes, IF (!!!) Dr. Grimes has performed thousands of induced abortions.

Why? Premature delivery was been an established Cerebral Palsy risk factor for at least 60 years.

Those babies born between 28 & 32.0 weeks’ gestation have fifty-five (55) times the CP risk as babies born closer to full-term (at least 37 weeks’ gestation). [3, Himpens]

In 2009, via these two (2) Systematic Reviews (SRs), the abortion-preemie risk became SETTLED SCIENCE. [4, Shah; 5, Swingle]

The Dr. Prakesh Shah (University of Toronto) SR was a peer-reviewed SR published in the very prestigious British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG).[4, Shah]

Dr. Shah found, based on data from 36 prior studies, that one prior IA multiplies ‘preemie’ risk by 1.36 (i.e. 36% higher risk), but more than one previous IA almost doubles ‘preemie’ risk (1.93 times the risk).

Who is the owner of/ responsible for the BJOG publication? Answer: the [U.K.] Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which has doctors who perform induced abortions!!!

Meanwhile, keep in mind that there are ZERO published Systematic Reviews finding that prior induced abortions do NOT raise premature delivery risk.  Dr. David Grimes can not cite any such abortion-preemie SRs.

Before February 2009, there had never been a systematic review (with meta-analysis) of the abortion-preemie risk.

Dr. David Grimes versus McGill University Research MDs

Three (3) McGill University researchers are very well aware that that preterm infants have raised CP risk.

In their Introduction, Drs. Ghislain Hardy, Alice Benjamin, & Haim A. Abenhaim state: “Preterm delivery is also associated with long-term health consequences for the newborn, including neuro-development disability such as cerebral palsy and chronic medical conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia.”

McGill is one of the most prestigious universities in North America.
These 3 McGill University M.D.s studied the premature delivery risk of women in Quebec (Canada’s 2nd most populous province) with prior induced abortions.

Their published findings in 2013 are disturbing.

Quebec women with prior induced abortion have 1.71 times the risk of deliveries under 28 weeks’ gestation and over double the risk (2.17 times the risk) of deliveries under 26 weeks’ gestation as do Quebec women with zero previous induced abortions.[6, Hardy]

Newborn babies under 28 weeks’ gestation have 129 times the Cerebral Palsy risk as full-term newborn babies according to the 2008 ‘study of studies’ by Evelyn Himpens et al.[3,Himpens]

The 2015 Dr. Tatavarti study referenced the 2013 Hardy-McGill-University study to support a link between abortion & Cerebral Palsy. [7, Tatavarti]

Grimes Gets No Help From the IoM (Institute of Medicine)

The IoM (Institute of Medicine) is part of the very prestigious [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences.

In its 2007 premature birth textbook the IoM listed 14 “Immutable Medical Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Birth”.

In the IoM list of 14 ‘preemie’ risks, the third listed risk is “Prior first trimester induced abortion”’ URL: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11622&page=625 [8, Behrman]

“But maybe there are a lot of studies finding that prior induced abortions actually REDUCE the risk of premature birth or Low Birth Weight (under 2,500 grams)” …?
That thought is pure fantasy.

In 1974 there was one (1) study by Japanese researcher Roht that reported that Japanese women with prior abortions have lower risk of low-birth-weight babies (under 2,500 grams).

Arrayed against this 41 year old study are 147 statistically significant studies that found that prior IAs (Induced Abortions) raise the risk of preterm birth or low-birth-weight.

The List can be found at URL: http://justiceforkids.webs.com/chapter4140studies.htm

Bottom Line:

Induced Abortions boost premature delivery risk which imparts higher odds that a newborn baby will be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Do not expect any such warning from Dr. David A. Grimes any time soon.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Brent Rooney (MSc)
Research Director, Reduce Preterm Risk Coalition
Vancouver, Canada
email: [email protected]
web: http://www.justiceforkids.webs.com

Appendix:
To the best of Brent Rooney’s knowledge, Dr. David A. Grimes has performed induced abortions, BUT how many such IAs Dr. Grimes has performed Brent Rooney has zero idea.

References

1 Lieberman E, Ryan KJ, Monson RR, Schoenbaum SC. Risk Factors Accounting For Racial Differences in the rate of premature birth. NEJM 1987;317:743-748. [ Abstract URL: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM198709173171206 ]

2 Rooney B, Calhoun BC, Roche L. Does induced abortion account for racial disparity in preterm births, and violate the Nuremberg Code? J Am Phys Surg 2008;13:102-104. [ URL: http://www.jpands.org/vol13no4/rooney.pdf ]

3 Himpens E, Van Den Broeck C, Oostra A, Claders P, Vanhaesebrouck P. Prevalence, type, and distribution and severity of cerebral palsy in relation to gestational age: a meta-analytic review. Dev Med Child Neurol 2008;50:334-340.

4 Shah PS, Zao J. Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2009;116:1425-1442. [URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02278.x/pdf ]

5 Swingle HM, Colaizy TT, Zimmerman MB, et al Abortion and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Reproductive Med 2009;54:95-108. [URL: http://johnrodgerssmith.com/MedicalObservations/Swingle/JRM%20Swingle%20paper%202009.pdf ]

6 Ghislain Hardy, Alice Benjamin, Haim A. Abenhaim. Effects of Induced Abortions on Early Preterm Births and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes. Journal Obstetrics Gynaecology Canada 2013;35(2):138-143 [ URL: http://www.jogc.com/abstracts/full/201302_Obstetrics_5.pdf ]

7 Tatavarti SR, Arimilli V. PRETERM BIRTH ASSOCIATED with CEREBRAL PALSY. Journal Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare. May 2015;2;2476-2479 [URL: http://www.jebmh.com/data_pdf/2_Srinivas%20Rao.pdf ]

8 Behrman RS, Butler AS, Alexandar GR. Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention. National Academy Press, Washington DC (2007)
[URL: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11622&page=625 ]

[17 June 2015, Brent Rooney (MSc)]

 

NOTE:

Dr. David Grimes ridiculed the link between abortion and subsequent premature births (“Abortion and Prematurity: A False Alarm” 6/10/15) in the Huffington Post.

See other articles on this website related to abortion, preterm delivery, and cerebral palsy.

 

ADDENDUM

IOM Report

13 July 2006, The Institutes of Medicine, which publishes several reports each year, issued a report “Pre-term Birth, Its Causes, Consequences and Prevention”

[https://www.iom.edu/Reports/2006/Preterm-Birth-Causes-Consequences-and-Prevention.aspx ]

Report Brief: “In 2005, 12.5 percent of births in the United States were preterm, at less than 37 weeks gestation. This high rate of premature births in the United States constitutes a public health concern that costs society at least $26 billion a year.

“Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention notes troubling disparities in preterm birth rates among different racial and ethnic groups… The report recommends a multidisciplinary research agenda aimed at improving the prediction and prevention of preterm labor and better understanding the health and developmental problems to which preterm infants are more vulnerable. In addition, the report recommends that guidelines be issued to further reduce the number of multiple births — a significant risk factor for preterm birth — resulting from infertility treatments.”
https://www.iom.edu/Reports/2006/Preterm-Birth-Causes-Consequences-and-Prevention.aspx

Related: 13 July 2006, National Academy of Sciences Press Release, http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?recordid=11622

“The report uses the word “preterm” for births that occur at less than 37 weeks of pregnancy; a full-term pregnancy is 38 to 42 weeks. In 2005, 12.5 percent of births in the United States were preterm, a 30 percent increase over 1981 rates. Babies born before 32 weeks have the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality, but “near-term” or “late-preterm” infants born between 32 and 36 weeks, which make up the greatest number of preterm births, are still at higher risk for health and developmental problems than full-term newborns. There is no test that accurately predicts preterm birth, and efforts to prevent it have primarily focused on delaying delivery long enough for the mother and fetus to get appropriate care, which has helped reduce morbidity and mortality rates…

“Last year the economic burden of preterm births was $26.2 billion, or $51,600 per infant, the committee estimated. Most of the expense was for medical care, especially that provided in infancy. Maternal care, early intervention services, special education for preterm infants with learning difficulties, and lost household and labor productivity also contribute to the cost…

“Researchers also should focus on studying how to prevent higher rates of preterm births among certain populations. In 2003, 17.8 percent of pregnant black women gave birth to a preterm baby, compared with 10.5 percent of Asian women, 11.5 percent of white women, and 11.9 percent of Hispanic women…”

NOTE: Black women experience an abortion rate approximately 3 times higher than white women.

 

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Lisbon confirming that there is indeed an association between a standard dilatation and curettage (D&C) abortion and an increased risk of prematurity in a subsequent pregnancy (ESHRE release, 6/16/15).

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_153135.html

The researcher, Dr. Pim Ankum of the Academic Medical Centre of the University of Amsterdam, analyzed 21 cohort studies covering almost 2 million women.

Ankum found that D&Cs performed for abortion or miscarriage increase the risk of a subsequent premature birth (under 37 weeks) by 29%, and the risk of very premature birth (under 32 weeks) by 69%.Ankum notes that these statistically significant increases were seen even when measured against control groups of similar women who did not have a D&C prior to pregnancy.

RELATED:
Study Shows Abortion Raises Risk of Premature Birth 69%, More Abortions Raise It Even More
http://www.lifenews.com/2015/06/19/study-shows-abortion-raises-risk-of-premature-birth-69-more-abortions-raise-it-even-more/

Surgical Procedure Common in O&G Associated with Increased Risk of Preterm Delivery, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 16 June 2015

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/esoh-msp061015.php
[June 17, 2015, Robert Preidt, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_153135.html ]

D & C Procedures May Raise Risk of Preterm Birth: Study

A widely used gynecological procedure may increase the risk of preterm delivery in future pregnancies, a new study suggests.

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is one of the most common minor surgeries in obstetrics and gynecology. It is used in cases of miscarriage and abortion, among other reasons.

While generally considered safe, previous research has found that D&C is associated with some rare but serious side effects, including tears or punctures in the cervix or uterus, infection and bleeding.

In this new study, researchers reviewed 21 studies that included nearly 2 million women. It found that D&C performed in cases of miscarriage or abortion was associated with a 29 percent increased risk of preterm birth (less than 37 weeks) in a later pregnancy, and a 69 percent increased risk of very preterm birth (less than 32 weeks) in a later pregnancy.

Although this study found an association between D&C and preterm birth, it cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Typical risk for preterm delivery is about 6 percent, while having an earlier D&C appears to increase the risk to almost 8 percent, according to the researchers.

That nearly 2 percent higher risk translates to about 16 extra preterm births per 1,000 women who have undergone D&C, the review found.

The results suggest the need for caution in the use of D&C in cases of miscarriage and abortion.

The results also lend further support for the use of less invasive procedures in such cases, according to study author Dr. Pim Ankum, a gynecologist at the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The study was to be presented Tuesday at a European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

Results from studies presented at meetings are generally viewed as preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

[European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, news release, June 16, 2015; HealthDay, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_153135.html ]

 

RESOURCE
47-page summary chart of over one hundred peer-reviewed studies involving mothers and newborns from 34 countries stretching back from the present to 1972, see

http://media.wix.com/ugd/523623_f962f05bef524b79ab72e5f69c9409d7.pdf