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What percentage of babies end up in NICU?
I love being with newborns and taking care of them. #healthcare
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Sherie’s Answer
The below data might give you a near estimate of how many babies end up in the NICU;
As many as 11.4 percent of all pregnancies end in early deliveries. About 450,000 babies in the United States alone are born too soon and 15 million babies are born preterm around the world - that's 1 in 10! 80 plus percent of preterm births are unanticipated. Approximately 45-50% of preterm births are idiopathic. (unknown) 30% are related to preterm rupture of membranes. (PROM) 15-20% are attributed to medically indicated (example: preeclampsia, abruption, IUGR) or elective preterm deliveries.
The premature birth rate in the United States has dropped for the seventh consecutive year, to 11.4 percent of all births in 2013.
This is the lowest rate in 17 years! The federal government's goal had been to reduce preterm births from a baseline of 12.7 percent in 2007 to 11.4 percent by 2020. The new figures mean the country hit the target seven years early.
Medical expenses for a baby born prematurely average about $54,000, compared with $4,000 for a healthy, full-term newborn.
Preterm birth rates remain stubbornly higher among certain racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., including black, Native American and Hispanic women. The rate of preterm birth among uninsured women also is far higher than the national average (19.8 percent in 2013.)
As many as 11.4 percent of all pregnancies end in early deliveries. About 450,000 babies in the United States alone are born too soon and 15 million babies are born preterm around the world - that's 1 in 10! 80 plus percent of preterm births are unanticipated. Approximately 45-50% of preterm births are idiopathic. (unknown) 30% are related to preterm rupture of membranes. (PROM) 15-20% are attributed to medically indicated (example: preeclampsia, abruption, IUGR) or elective preterm deliveries.
The premature birth rate in the United States has dropped for the seventh consecutive year, to 11.4 percent of all births in 2013.
This is the lowest rate in 17 years! The federal government's goal had been to reduce preterm births from a baseline of 12.7 percent in 2007 to 11.4 percent by 2020. The new figures mean the country hit the target seven years early.
Medical expenses for a baby born prematurely average about $54,000, compared with $4,000 for a healthy, full-term newborn.
Preterm birth rates remain stubbornly higher among certain racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., including black, Native American and Hispanic women. The rate of preterm birth among uninsured women also is far higher than the national average (19.8 percent in 2013.)
Updated
Ron’s Answer
While NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) admission rates will vary by region, a neonatologist friend shared with me this 2019 data from upstate New York, with the explanation that their particular NICU admits 800-900 babies to its 60 bed NICU facility annually. This is consistent with the excellent and detailed answer from Sherie with national data. The admission criteria for this one hospital in upstate New York include:
1. Any baby less than 36 weeks gestation
2. Any baby with other critical health issues: prematurity of the lungs, hypoglycemia, seizures or other neurological problems, infections, malformations, metabolic disorders
That regional NY data describes ~14,000 live births during the 2019 reporting period, with an overall 7.7% NICU admission rate. Most of these NICU admissions were for premature (<37 week gestation), with the reported premature birth rate 9.2%. Those rates vary by the hospital maternity ward size (i.e., hospitals with the most births also have higher rates of premature babies and higher NICU admission rates). Premature babies often have low birth weights and other medical complications. 6% of the babies had low birth weights (1500-2499 grams); 1% had very low birth weights (500 - 1499 grams). The region also reported a 0.1% in hospital new born death rate.
If you thinking about a career working in a NICU, she added "NICU desperately needs nurses. There is a serious nurse shortage. We have actually imported in dozens of nurses from the Philippines to work in our hospital."
1. Any baby less than 36 weeks gestation
2. Any baby with other critical health issues: prematurity of the lungs, hypoglycemia, seizures or other neurological problems, infections, malformations, metabolic disorders
That regional NY data describes ~14,000 live births during the 2019 reporting period, with an overall 7.7% NICU admission rate. Most of these NICU admissions were for premature (<37 week gestation), with the reported premature birth rate 9.2%. Those rates vary by the hospital maternity ward size (i.e., hospitals with the most births also have higher rates of premature babies and higher NICU admission rates). Premature babies often have low birth weights and other medical complications. 6% of the babies had low birth weights (1500-2499 grams); 1% had very low birth weights (500 - 1499 grams). The region also reported a 0.1% in hospital new born death rate.
If you thinking about a career working in a NICU, she added "NICU desperately needs nurses. There is a serious nurse shortage. We have actually imported in dozens of nurses from the Philippines to work in our hospital."
Updated
Ron’s Answer
As of 2013 there were nearly 1,000 US hospitals NICUs and nearly 22,000 NICU beds total. The number of NICU admissions has been growing and here is some controversy over the reasons. A March of Dimes study reported 183,000 newborns were admitted to NICU units in one 12 month period between 2009-2010. Below are a couple of summary reports for you to learn more.
https://lowninstitute.org/new-report-finds-disturbing-variation-in-neonatal-intensive-care/
https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/pdfdocs/nicu_summary_final.pdf
Ron recommends the following next steps: