Premature Births Rise Slightly, First Uptick In 8 Years, March Of Dimes Reports

The medical field considers forty weeks, or nine months, as the perfect pregnancy. Babies born before this mark face the possibility of health complications that could last a lifetime. Yet, according to the latest data, more women are having their babies too soon.

The number of preterm births in the United States rose in 2015 for the first time in eight years, according to data presented Tuesday by the March of Dimes. The organization also reported that racial minorities continue to experience early labor at higher rates.

Preterm births increased from 9.57 to 9.63 percent in 2015, which represents an additional 2,000 babies born prematurely in the U.S., the report found.

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