•  In Missouri, about 10,000 babies are born too soon annually. That is one of every eight babies.   In 2007 (the latest figures available), Missouri’s prematurity rate was 12.5 percent.  That is actually down from 13.3 percent in 2005.  The national average is 12.7 percent.  In Illinois, the rate is 13.3 percent (23,000 babies).  In the city of St. Louis, 18 percent (1 in 5 babies) were born too soon.  In St. Louis County, 14.1 percent.  In St. Clair County, Illinois, the rate was 13.6 percent.

·              Preterm birth hits minorities harder. The rate of preterm birth in Missouri is highest for black infants (19.5%), followed by Native Americans (14.0%), Hispanics (12.5%), whites (12.0%) and Asians (11.8%).  The rate of preterm birth in Illinois is highest for black infants (19.1%), followed by Native Americans (15.1%), whites (11.8%), Hispanics (11.8%) and Asians (10.3%).

·              Three factors that contribute to the rate of preterm births are:

ü  The number of uninsured women – Access to health care before and during pregnancy can help identify and manage health conditions that contribute to premature birth.

ü  The number of women smoking – Smoking is the leading known, preventable cause of premature birth.

ü  The number of late preterm births (34-36 weeks) – About 90 percent of the increase in late preterm births nationally in recent years has been attributed to scheduled c‑sections and inductions.

·              Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in the first month of life in the United States. 

·              Babies who survive a premature birth face the risk of serious life-long health problems including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma. Even infants born just a few weeks too soon have a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding difficulties, hypothermia (temperature instability), jaundice and delayed brain development.

·              Premature birth brings a substantial financial burden to families, their employers, and insurers.  The nationwide cost of preterm birth is $26.2 billion, according to a study by the National Institute of Medicine.

·              March of Dimes invests about $4 million a year in Missouri for medical research, community service, education, and advocacy.

·              For more information, log on to www.marchofdimes.com/missouri