Some States Have More Premature Babies Than Others

by Mary Ann Romans

preemie A new report shows that the odds of you having a premature baby depend on the state in which you live. The report was issued by the March of Dimes organization which tracked premature births and gave a report card on the disparity of premature births by state.

For example, the states with the lowest incidence of premature births tend to be up north. In Vermont, a woman is least likely to have a premature baby. Only 9 percent of all births are premature. Oregon and Connecticut also have low rates of premature births.

When you move down further south of the country, those number rise dramatically. There are a whopping 18.8 percent of premature births in Mississippi, the worst state in the union for premature birth rates. West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Louisiana also have large percentages of premature births.

Overall in this country about one in eight babies is born premature. Prematurity can result in all sorts of conditions and medical issues, from learning disorders to death.

While prematurity is not well understood, the report does give three factors that may play a role in the difference in the premature birth rates across the states:

Lack of insurance leading to lack of prenatal care. Risks for preterm labor can offen be identity and treatment given to women who are at risk.

Smoking. There is a higher incidence of smoking in some of the states that also have the higher premature birth rates. Overall, the report estimates that 17 percent of all pregnant women smoke.

Scheduled C-sections. C-sections may purposely be scheduled ahead of full term (for example to avoid having a large baby), or they may be scheduled without a good understanding of the age of the fetus.

What do you think of this recent news?