The United States again earned a D+ grade on the 2025 March of Dimes report card, marking the fourth consecutive year of this historically low grade for preterm birth.
The report card, released Nov. 17, revealed that the national preterm birth rate remains at 10.4%, meaning nearly 380,000 babies were born too early in 2024 (1 in 10 births).
Behind this year’s rating lies a sobering reality: our maternal and child health system remains dangerously stagnant.
Thus, new data from the March of Dimes reveals persistent inequalities and growing health risks, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen Medicaid, early access to care and maternal health policies.
News in 2025
– Racial disparities worsen: Premature birth rates among babies born to Black mothers and those who gave birth rose to 14.7%, now nearly 1.5 times the overall baby rate.
– New Medicaid data: Babies born to mothers covered by Medicaid face a preterm birth rate of 11.7%, compared to 9.6% for privately insured births.
– Decrease in prenatal care: 24.5% of pregnant women did not begin care in the first trimester, the fourth consecutive year of decline.
– Chronic conditions on the rise: Pre-existing conditions such as hypertension increased by 6% and diabetes by 8% this year among pregnant people, both known risk factors for preterm birth.
– Infant mortality unchanged: the rate remained at 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, with more than 20,000 babies dying before their first birthday in 2023.
“As a doctor who has seen how much is possible when we get it right, this data is deeply frustrating,” said Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes.
“We have known about the risk factors for preterm birth, including a history of preterm birth, chronic illnesses, and unequal access to care, for years. That the national rate remains unchanged while disparities continue to widen means we must deepen our commitment to research, expand access to maternity care, and push for better policies that protect our nation’s mothers and babies.”
A multiple strategy
The March of Dimes is addressing the drivers of preterm birth on multiple fronts, expanding its Preterm Birth Research Centers, including a new collaboration in Texas, and operating Mobile Mother and Baby Health Centers that provide prenatal and postpartum care directly to communities where maternity care is limited.
The organization advocates for policies including the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act to maintain funding for Maternal Mortality Review Committees, reauthorizing the Premature Act to renew federal investment in research and data, and expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage.
Additional policy efforts include increasing access to doulas and midwives, strengthening telehealth in rural areas, and addressing structural racism that drives disparities in maternal and child outcomes.
While the 2025 report card confirms that the United States remains stuck in a dangerous status quo, the March of Dimes continues to advance research, expand access to care, and advocate for policies that protect mothers and babies.
Since 1938, the March of Dimes has built a successful legacy of supporting every pregnant woman and family.
Visit marchofdimes.org either bornsano.org for more information.
