Topping tonight's "Health Headlines", the United States has received a "D" in the March of Dimes' first state by state premature birth report card, released today.
However, not one state in the nation recieved an "A", the guidelines being a pre-term birth rate of 7.6% or less. In fact, Onondaga County had the highest pre-term rate in New York State, at 12.6%
More than 530,000 babies are born prematurely each year and pre-term birth is the leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disabilities. Vermont ranked the best with only 9%of premature babies, while Mississippi ranked the worst at over 18%.States need to expand health insurance coverage for women of child-bearing age and hospitals should review reasons for labor inductions and c-sections performed before 39 weeks. Studies show doctors are often performing them for the mother's convenience, rather than for medical reasons.
Among some of the solutions presented? pregnant women who have had a previous pre-term birth should get weekly shots of the hormone progesterone, beginning at 16 weeks. That is shown to cut the birth risk by a third.
