The March of Dimes is giving most of the country failing grades when it comes to premature births. 17 states received a "D" including Iowa and Illinois. Scott and Rock Island counties also both received "Ds" for premature births.
In 2009, nearly 13 percent of births in Scott County were considered premature. In Rock Island County that figure was just over 11 percent. But Quad City doctors say those numbers could be off.
"We see that and I hear that a lot from many of the hospitals that are on the Mississippi side of the state of Iowa, that a substantial number of pregnant women are coming across the river to their hospitals," according to Dr. Stephen Hunter. He says it is happening for a few different reasons. He says many of those women have no insurance or have substance abuse problems.
"Regulations to obtain Medicaid coverage in Iowa is different than in Illinois. It seems to be easier here in Iowa and I think that drives some of it," he added.
But no matter how you look at it, the numbers in the Quad Cities are high and to bring them down, Dr. Hunter says you need to start with the basics.
"Certainly there are things, such as not getting prenatal care or smoking during pregnancy that are being done, those are things that can be changed in each individual woman's pregnancy that my have a significant impact," said Hunter.
Hospitals also need to reduce the number of voluntary Cesarean-section procedures or labor inductions performed at 34 to 37 weeks gestation. Dr. Hunter says Genesis Health System is already doing that.
"They actually adopted this 39 week policy quite some time ago. They follow it with virtually zero tolerance," Hunter said.
Trinity Health System says it also won't allow C-sections or women to be induced until they reach week 39 weeks.
Unfortunately, Hunter says there are many moms, like Tara Lopez Blackwell, who did everything right and still had a pre term baby. At this point there is no explanation as to why she delivered early, but she has advice for all pregnant women:
"Take it easy, and don't go through a lot of stress," Lopez Blackwell said.
