Storm Tracking? It Can Be Used in Pregnancy, Too

The US is knee-deep in hurricane season. So here's a thought: What if we could predict premature births the same way we predict the status of storms like Hanna and Ike?

This story in The Age suggests we might be able to do just that. Researchers in Melbourne, Australia are developing computer technology that analyses data and tracks the hormone levels of pregnant women the same way that the paths of hurricanes and tropical storms are tracked. That information could then be used to more effectively assess the risk of a pre-term birth and thereby help the mother-to-be manage her pregnancy differently. The researchers believe they could cut Australia's premature birth rate in half if this system is put into widespread use.

What the article doesn't explain is how accurate the technology is. As we all know, predicting the weather isn't always a precise science. Meteorologists often think a storm is going to go one way, then it veers in another direction. It's also unclear how expensive something like this might be and whether health insurance would cover it. 

Still, questions aside, it's a promising and intriguing development, especially if it means mums could take much earlier steps to ensure their pregnancies are healthy and full-term.