More than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States each year; the number has increased more than 30% since 1981.

 

Premature birth is the leading killer of newborns.

 

One in 8 births in the United States is premature (prior to 37 weeks gestation).

 

In the state of Ohio in 2005, 12.8% of births were preterm (<37 weeks) and 2.0% of births were very preterm (<32 weeks).