Preterm birth rates continued to rise in 2005, and preliminary data for 2006 suggests that the trend is continuing.
In 2005, more than 525,000 babies, or 12.7 percent, were born at less than 37 weeks gestation. That’s an increase from 12.5 percent in 2004. 2006 likely saw 12.8 percent premature births, or about 543,000 babies.
The preterm birth rate has increased more than 20 percent since 1990. Prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life.