This link will bring you to a video provided by the March of Dimes to show you some signs of preterm labor.
http://bcove.me/cx8y80j4

This is an image of what the lungs of a premature babies lungs look like compared to a full term baby. As you can see the premature babies lungs are so much smaller then a full term baby and this is why premature babies have so many complications with breathing.

On Monday September 29, 2014 we did an activity called speed dating. This was an activity to meet with other students and get their input on your topic. After doing this activity I gained a lot of different opinions on what I could add to my research. I was also able to really help other people that had a basic idea expand on that idea and give them different ideas to research. 
Shannon: What effects does it have on the parents?
Lauren: Look into the rates of different states.
Maria: Look into the rates of what is the largest type of women that have premature babies.
Gabi: Relate my studies locally.

After studying 14 thousand children it was proven that an increased number of premature babies were born if the mother was of low economic status, smoked, drank alcohol, or abused drugs.

This is the story of Nadia a premature baby. She was born 23 weeks old and faced many complications watch her story and let her tell you more about what she faced.

Lots of different things can increase your risk of premature labor. Some of them are:

• Smoking
• Being very overweight or underweight before pregnancy
• Not getting good prenatal care
• Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during pregnancy
• Having health conditions, such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes, blood clotting disorders, or infections
• Being pregnant with a baby that has certain birth defects
• Being pregnant with a baby from in vitro fertilization
• Being pregnant with twins or other multiples
• A family or personal history of premature labor
• Getting pregnant too soon after having a baby
• Women in their 30s or older that take fertility drugs increase the risk of premature babies and increase the number of children born

According to Wendy Burdo-Hartman, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, many premature children develop learning disabilities such as trouble paying attention, impulsivity, and sensory issues related to loud noises, bright lights, and touch. Memorizing math facts in particular is difficult for some. This is caused because the lower the baby's birth weight and gestational age the more likely the baby is to develop learning difficulties as the child ages. About half of preemies weighing less than 3 1/2 pounds at birth develop learning disabilities or behavioral issues, says Cathy Boatman, a child development specialist at the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. If a preemie had medical complications after delivery, or if his mother abused alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, that can also increase his risk of learning or behavior challenges.

Children born premature are at a higher risk of long term health problems. The problems include Cerebral Palsy, impaired cognitive skills, vision problems, hearing problems, dental issues, behavioral and psychological issues, chronic health issues. Many children born prematurely are at a higher risk of death by early adulthood.

I finally decided on an idea! I'm going to be researching what are the short and long term effects of premature babies? Also what causes premature babies and how does it then affect them socially and emotionally in school and in the everyday world??? There will more information to come!

I'm Molly Turgeon and i'm a senior at Rutland High School, and I am taking part in the 2014 STEM Capstone project. I'm doing this to receive credit for a semester long science class that involves solving issues in the science technology engineering and mathematics world. I'm creating this blog so anyone can keep up to date on my research with my future plans. I hope that this blog will be interesting to those who view it!