Preemie problems persist

The USA received a "D" overall on the March of Dimes' first state-by-state "Premature Birth Report Card," released today. Each year, more than 530,000 babies are born before 37 full weeks of gestation, which is considered preterm. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disability, according to the March of Dimes. Based on the percentage of 2005 live births that were preterm, Vermont ranked at the top with 9%, slightly less than half the figure in Mississippi, which ranked at the bottom with 18.8%.