Report says premature births on the rise

November 18, 2009 The rate of premature births has been increasing steadily over the last 20 years.

Many factors contribute to the problem, but the researchers reveal doctors are increasingly causing premature births by inducing labor early or delivering babies by C-section.

Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation often have serious health risks.

A full term baby is born at 40 weeks.

Every year, the March of Dimes grades states based on its number of premature births.

Illinois got a "D."

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