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BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 03:31 AM Jul 2020

During Coronavirus Lockdowns, Some Doctors Wondered: Where Are the Preemies?

"Hospitals in several countries saw dips in premature births, which could be a starting point for future research."

"This spring, as countries around the world told people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, doctors in neonatal intensive care units were noticing something strange: Premature births were falling, in some cases drastically."

"It started with doctors in Ireland and Denmark. Each team, unaware of the other’s work, crunched the numbers from its own region or country and found that during the lockdowns, premature births — especially the earliest, most dangerous cases — had plummeted. When they shared their findings, they heard similar anecdotal reports from other countries."

"They don’t know what caused the drop in premature births, and can only speculate as to the factors in lockdown that might have contributed. But further research might help doctors, scientists and parents-to-be understand the causes of premature birth and ways to prevent it, which have been elusive until now."

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/health/coronavirus-premature-birth.html#click=https://t.co/6QwZ2QM9Xe

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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During Coronavirus Lockdowns, Some Doctors Wondered: Where Are the Preemies? (Original Post) BigmanPigman Jul 2020 OP
Normally I'd have some kind of theory for something like this ... mr_lebowski Jul 2020 #1
Maybe mothers to be were walking less as they were in lockdown? Or applegrove Jul 2020 #2
Oh, man, if it turns out to be pollution-driven that would be amazing ... mr_lebowski Jul 2020 #4
They'll do what they always do... JHB Jul 2020 #5
This is of course exactly what'll happen ... mr_lebowski Jul 2020 #8
Precisely Sherman A1 Jul 2020 #15
True this. But the corrupt right wing extremists will find evangelicals and catholics applegrove Jul 2020 #6
Maybe they were walking less . . . Jillgirl Jul 2020 #13
Home cooked meals? safeinOhio Jul 2020 #3
somehow E.T.s have to be involved. Garion_55 Jul 2020 #7
I'm not saying... klook Jul 2020 #10
Maybe they got more rest. Alwaysna Jul 2020 #9
This soothsayer Jul 2020 #11
More rest and less stress I'd say. Maraya1969 Jul 2020 #16
"nearly empty NICU." What a great thing. Hortensis Jul 2020 #12
In some families that have kept to old wives tales Deb Jul 2020 #14
Is this really a mystery? Baitball Blogger Jul 2020 #17
 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
1. Normally I'd have some kind of theory for something like this ...
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 03:39 AM
Jul 2020

But at first blush .. yeah, no ... I got nothing.

Probably come to me later. I know you'll all stay tuned

This is definitely fascinating though.

applegrove

(118,014 posts)
2. Maybe mothers to be were walking less as they were in lockdown? Or
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 04:08 AM
Jul 2020

maybe there is less dirty air to breath in?

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
4. Oh, man, if it turns out to be pollution-driven that would be amazing ...
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:03 AM
Jul 2020

The so-called 'pro-life' (also often hostile to environmental protections) types heads would explode.

They won't know WHAT to do.

JHB

(37,128 posts)
5. They'll do what they always do...
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:08 AM
Jul 2020

They'll believe what they want to believe and ignore inconvenient contradictions.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
8. This is of course exactly what'll happen ...
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:13 AM
Jul 2020

But we will at least have the pleasure of taunting them relentlessly about their obvious hypocrisy.

So there's that.

applegrove

(118,014 posts)
6. True this. But the corrupt right wing extremists will find evangelicals and catholics
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:10 AM
Jul 2020

a way to not add it up. Or they'll try. I think even the religious right are getting tired of contradictions though. Seems the practice of ignoring mass shootings ended a few years ago. Maybe it is time for another change.

Jillgirl

(64 posts)
13. Maybe they were walking less . . .
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:54 AM
Jul 2020

. . . or maybe they were walking *more*, because they suddenly had time to stay in shape. Exercising more but not working as hard, not pushing themselves.

Agree about air.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
12. "nearly empty NICU." What a great thing.
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 05:48 AM
Jul 2020

Drops differed dramatically, even within nations, but the biggest drop was in numbers of babies tragically born earliest. Fascinating!

So, because of the pandemic, we'll be learning how to keep more babies safely in their wombs.

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
17. Is this really a mystery?
Tue Jul 21, 2020, 07:12 AM
Jul 2020

Woman are usually working until they go into labor, and they're wondering why staying at home, away from the pressures of work is improving the viability of their pregnancies?

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