Late pregnancy, IVF, stress behind spike in preterm births, say docs
Times of India | 18 November 2025
Kolkata: Premature births in Kolkata have risen to around 11%-12% of all live births from close to 9% in 2018-19, according to a study by researchers affiliated to London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with WHO and Unicef.
City gynaecologists and neonatal experts have attributed the worrying trend to in vitro fertilisation (assisted reproduction), late pregnancy, stress, erratic sleep and decline in air quality.
Kolkata's trend stands in contrast to the national figures, which have remained almost the same over the past decade, reveals the study based on data from private maternity hospitals and neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
The recently released report refers to findings, published in the journal Lancet in 2023, that India recorded 3 million preterm births in 2020 — highest in the world. The country's preterm rate hovers at 12%-13% of all live births.
The study cites a 20%-25% rise in NICU admissions in Kolkata for babies born before 34 weeks since 2018-19.
Preterm deliveries have increased due to three main reasons, according to Bani Kumar Mitra, founder and chief consultant of Abha Surgy Centre, an IVF and gynaecology centre.
"Premature births often result from complications linked to delayed pregnancies," Mitra said on Monday, which coincided with World Prematurity Day (Nov 17).
Mitra said an increasing number of couples are opting for IVF, a procedure that can lead to premature births if not supervised properly. Vaginal infections, he said, are also responsible for preterm deliveries.
Ritika Ghosh Dastidar, consultant paediatrician at Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, said more expectant mothers are now suffering from gestational diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders and obesity — conditions that can trigger medically indicated early deliveries or spontaneous preterm labour.
"Late pregnancy is a risk factor for early deliveries. IVF pregnancies and other assisted reproductive technologies have become more popular, and these carry a higher likelihood of prematurity," said Ghosh Dastidar. "Heightened stress and longer working hours, along with worsening air pollution, are other contributing factors."
Ghosh Dastidar added that the rise in early deliveries can also be linked to improved detection, driven by a wider NICU coverage and the expansion of private maternity services.
Anshu Agrawal, obstetrician & gynaecologist, ILS Hospitals, stressed that early labour can be triggered by chronic stress resulting from long working hours, commuting and urban pressures, all of which lead to hormonal shifts
"Irregular meals, high intake of processed food and inadequate hydration lead to nutritional deficiencies, particularly of iron and protein, which are essential for a healthy pregnancy," said Agarwal.