U.S. gets a D for preventing premature births

Last month, the U.S. received a set of grades from the March of Dimes, the nation's leading organization committed to preventing preterm births, that were nothing short of horrible. Overall, the nation received a D. Not a single state merited an A, and only one, Vermont, earned a B. Given recent trends, it's unlikely that these grades will improve any time soon. Rates of preterm birth in the U.S. have been steadily increasing for years. In 2000, 11.6% of infants were born prematurely. In 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, this figure had grown to 12.7%.

Births between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation, or the late-preterm period, have increased most dramatically (a full-term birth takes place at 40 weeks). Late-preterm births now constitute 72% of all preterm births, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The fact that women are having babies at an older age is thought to contribute to this increase. "When they do get pregnant, women who are well into their 30s are more likely to incur all of the problems associated with pregnancy -- including prematurity," says Dr. Alan Fleischman, medical director for the March of Dimes.

The use of in vitro fertilization and other types of assisted reproductive technology also plays a role. More than half of all pregnancies conceived with assisted reproductive technology result in multiple births, dramatically increasing the risk of prematurity. Roughly half of all twin pregnancies deliver before 37 weeks and only 1 in 10 triplet pregnancies progress to term.

Perhaps the most significant factor contributing to the rise in late-preterm births, however, is an escalation in the rates of cesarean delivery. About 1 in 3 infants in the U.S. is born by cesarean section. Though rates vary substantially among states, ranging from 21.6% in Utah to 36.8% in Louisiana, they are almost universally higher than those of most European countries.

Bonnie - the most important thing one can do for their child is to make a concerted effort to be as perfect with their diet and lifestyle before conception and during pregnancy. It is absolutely crucial now that the medical paradigm for pregnancy has changed so dramatically.