Pregnancy outcomes

Premature birth is the leading cause of serious health problems and death for newborn babies in Ohio. Learn how to help prevent preterm birth.

Pregnancy outcomes is the outcome of a pregnancy, which can include factors such as prematurity and low birth weight.

  • A premature birth means a baby is born to early, before 37th week of pregnancy.
  • Low birth weight describes babies who are born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams).

According to the Ohio Department of Health, prematurity was the leading cause of all infant mortality in 2021, followed by congenital anomalies, external injuries, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).1

  • Black infants were almost three times as likely to die from prematurity-related conditions.
Pregnant mom holds stuffed animal at baby shower

Learn how to prevent preterm birth:

Prenatal Care
Early and regular prenatal care appointments have many positive benefits that reduce the risk of pregnancy complications during and after pregnancy. Start prenatal care in the first trimester so that your provider can identify health risks as early as possible.

Alcohol or Smoking Tobacco Products
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, or other substances while pregnant. Smoking puts babies at greater risk for certain types of birth defects, prematurity, and being born at a low birth weight.

Chronic Health Conditions
Maternal chronic health conditions might lead to preterm birth. Discuss how to manage health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure with your provider.

Birth Spacing
Wait at least 18 months between pregnancies to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and other health problems.

Stress
Reduce your stress level. Maternal stress increases the risk of preterm birth.

Obesity
Eat nutritious, well-balanced foods before and during pregnancy. Maternal obesity has been indicated as a risk factor for preterm birth.

Premature birth

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health, infant mortality rates in Ohio:2,3

  • Are trending down, but
  • Are higher than rates in 80% of the country

In 2018, per 1,000 live births:

  • Black babies died at nearly 3 times the rate of white babies
  • Infant mortality rates for black babies and white babies was higher than the national average

The leading causes of infant death in Ohio are prematurity-related conditions, including:

  • Preterm births before 37 weeks of pregnancy has been reached
  • Low birth weight
  • Respiratory distress syndrome
  • Neonatal hemorrhage
  • Congenital anomalies/birth defects
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Sources

  1. “Infant Mortality Rates by State,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, last accessed January 3, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/infant_mortality_rates/infant_mortality.htm. 
  2. “Infant Vitality,” Ohio Department of Health, last accessed January 3, 2025, https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/infant-vitality/infant-vitality. 

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