Small Survivors Overcoming a Worldwide Pandemic~ by Julia McEllen

 I know we are all aware of the chaos our world has plummeted into these last few months. It is as if every day is full of bad news piling into our brains in an infinite cycle. First, it was wildfires, and then World War III almost happened, and now we are being locked inside as millions upon millions of people are dying from the Coronavirus. Where does all the bad news end? Well, I'm here to share some good news that has been overshadowed in this time of overwhelming chaos about some of the smallest people to thrive during this time when most other people are struggling.

The stars of this story are preemies. The statistic for premature babies born and premature babies who die in the world have been staggeringly high year after year. According to the New York Times article "During Coronavirus Lockdowns, Some Doctors Wondered: Where Are the Preemies?", "About one in 10 U.S. babies is born early. Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, and any delivery before 37 weeks is considered preterm" (Preston 1). These babies are born into life too early, leaving their bodies underdeveloped and deprived of necessary time in the womb to finish growing into healthy newborn babies. However,  "The researchers found that during the lockdown, the rate of babies born before 28 weeks had dropped by a startling 90 percent" (Preston 1) which is an extremely significant drop in the number of premature births. Because the world was on lockdown due to the Coronavirus, pregnant women were forced to take it easy. They didn't have to go to work or to the grocery store. They didn't have to constantly be on their feet, running around and experiencing the stress of everyday life. This time at home gave these mothers relaxation and the ability to quietly bond with their unborn babies, which is what doctors think allowed for more mothers to carry their babies to full term. 

I think this is such an astonishing story. With all of the adults and even teenagers dying during this pandemic, it is defeating to know that these sometimes healthy and capable people aren't able to survive this virus. However, to know that some of the weakest and most fragile humans are thriving during this time, and having more opportunity to grow and develop how they need to, brings hope in the darkest of times. It is also comforting to know that even though a majority of the older generations haven't survived this pandemic, the younger generations are stronger and more ready than ever to keep humanity running and sustained as we rebuild from this chaotic time of loss. And even though the Coronavirus has brought such stress to life, "the pandemic and lockdowns could be something like a natural experiment that might help researchers understand why premature birth happens and how to avoid it" (Preston 1), which would help to further this period of rebuilding and hopefully keep the level of premature births low even after the pandemic has passed so we can see happier and healthier babies far into the future.

 

Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/health/coronavirus-premature-birth.html