Created: 11/13/2012 8:35 PM KSTC45.com | Print Story | Email
By: Scott Theisen

Minn. Gets 'B' on Premature Birth Report Card

Minnesota is a leader in making healthy babies, but the state can still do better.

The March of Dimes gave Minnesota a "B" on the premature birth report card. 9.9 percent of babies born in the state are premature. The non-profit says we could raise our grade to an "A" by lowering the number of babies born before 37 weeks. That's an important time for developing a baby's lungs and other organs.

Nationally, the rate of premature births is 11.7 percent. That gives the United States a grade of "C" on the report card.