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KY Premature Births Decline

marchofdimes.org

A new report shows Kentucky continues to make strides in reducing the number of babies born premature.  Just over 12 percent of babies in the state last year were born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which was an improvement for the 7th year in a row. 

The commonwealth earned a “C” on the latest report card from the March of Dimes. Only a few years ago, the state was failing.  Katrina Smith with the Kentucky March of Dimes Chapter credits the improvement to better education.

"'Healthy Babies are Worth the Weight,' one of our signature programs, helps a woman do everything she can to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy," Smith said.

Smith said still too many women are smoking while pregnant, though.

"The CDC has actually identified smoking in pregnancy as one of the main things you can do to prevent a pre-term birth," Smith said. "We do have significantly higher rates of women who smoke in Kentucky, so that's definitely one of the things we're working on."

Babies who survive an early birth can face a lifetime of health challenges.  Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants.

Kentucky’s premature birth rate in 2013 was just over 12 percent.  The national rate was 11 percent.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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