Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-11-18)
LOUISVILLE
(Kentucky Public Radio) -
Kentucky continues to rank poorly nationwide when it comes to its rate of premature births. The March of Dimes gave Kentucky an 'F' on its annual report card on premature birth.
State Director of Program Services Katrina Thompson says a lot of the poor showing has to do with the high rate of smoking - especially among pregnant women - in Kentucky. She says they're also seeing an increase in babies born in the 34-to-36 week range of gestation.
"Those are the ones that have been linked to rising rates of cesareans, of inductions, and that seems to really be contributing to the rate of pre-term birth, because what happens is, they think these babies are ready to be born, and they look like a 40-week newborn, but they're just not, they're not mature enough."
Thompson says a growing number of women are asking to be induced before labor naturally starts, and an increasing number of doctors are obliging them.
© Copyright 2012, Kentucky Public Radio
