Pre-Term Birth Rates Decline
By Jeannine Stein
NY Times
Nov. 2011
A recent report issued by the March of Dimes shows that while the overrall rate of pre-term births
in the US is declining, many states still fall far behind.
"The March of Dimes credits various health interventions for the better numbers, such as fewer elective,
unneeded C-sections before the 39th week of pregnancy and the use of progesterone, which has
been
shown to help prevent preterm births. Other factors the organization
said that also affect preterm
births are smoking prevention, healthcare
coverage, prenatal care and not having multiple births from
fertility
treatments. With preterm bith can come a number of health complications for babies, such as
neurological, vision and hearing problems, plus respiratory difficulties. "
