ICAN of Louisville
International Cesarean Awareness Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robin Elise Weiss
http://www.icanoflouisville.com
KENTUCKY EARNS AN “F” FOR PREMATURE BIRTH RATE BY MARCH OF DIMES. C-SECTIONS A CRITICAL FACTOR IN PRETERM BIRTH INCREASE
Louisville, Kentucky, November 14, 2008
Kentucky’s preterm birth rate (15.2%) is twice the Healthy People 2010 objective of 7.6%. According to an analysis of nine years of national birth data by the March of Dimes and the CDC, cesarean sections account for nearly all of the increase in singleton preterm births in the United States. Preterm birth is a serious and costly health concern and is the leading cause of death in the first month of life. One out of every eight U.S. babies are born too soon each year, costing the nation more than $26.2 billion in medical and educational costs, and lost productivity. Late preterm babies, those born 34-36 weeks gestation, account for most of the increase in the singleton preterm birth rate and analysis shows that these infants had the largest increase in c-section deliveries. There is a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding difficulties, temperature instability, jaundice, delayed brain development and death for infants born before term.
There is concern by the March of Dimes that some early and surgical deliveries may occur without good medical justification, and may be done at the request of the mother or based on an inappropriate recommendation from the doctor. A Call to Action has been issued for hospitals and health care professionals to voluntarily assess c-sections and inductions which occur prior to 39 weeks gestation. Currently in Kentucky 1 in every 3 babies is born by c-section. With a cesarean birth rate of 34.5%, Kentucky ranks the 6th highest in the nation.
ICAN of Louisville is a local chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
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