This is a real problem.

Prematurity is the leading cause of death during a baby's first month of life, and serious complications can occur later in life for the preemies who survive.

The earlier a child is born, the higher the risk of complications including:

• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Bleeding in the brain
• Less ability to fight off infection due to immature immune system
• Mental retardation
• Cerebral palsy
• Lung problems
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Vision and hearing loss

The annual price tag for helping premature babies survive is a hefty $26 billion.

Infertility treatments indeed can be a cause; in fact, 62 percent of the twins and 97 percent of other multiple births that were conceived through infertility treatments were born prematurely.

However, a more likely culprit for most is the lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the typical American diet. A mother-to-be can greatly reduce her chances of a premature birth naturally and safely by consuming a fish oil.

The DHA fats in omega-3 rich foods will not only prevent the vast majority of premature deliveries, but will also help to maximize the intelligence of your child, optimize their vision, and protect the baby from brain injuries such as autism, pervasive developmental delay and ADHD.

The best and purest source I've found is a high-quality krill oil, made from krill that are harvested in the clean waters of the Antarctic, which I sell in my Web store.

You can further reduce your risk of giving birth prematurely by:

• Exercising
• Avoiding exposure to pesticides
• Treating severe gum disease
• Making sure you eat enough high-quality calories
• Gaining a proper amount of weight
• Avoiding exposure to phthalates