Premature births are on the rise, Texas gets ‘C’ grade

AUSTIN (NBC News/KXAN) — A new survey from the March of Dimes finds that after nearly a decade of decline the preterm birth rate has gone up.
The increase last year was slight, from 9.57 to 9.63 percent. Still, that represents 2,000 more babies born too soon, before 37 weeks gestation and before their lungs and brains are fully developed.
The rise earned the United States a “C” grade in this year’s March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. The four states that earned an