Community is Crucial for Expectant Moms and Dads

Recent data documented in the 2023 March of Dimes Report Card for Tennessee indicates concerning stats for expectant mothers and their babies in the state, particularly Black mothers and babies. For example, the preterm birth rate among babies born to Black birthing people in Tennessee is 15%, which means that 15% of babies born to Black birthing parents were born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This rate is 1.5 times higher than the preterm birth rate among all other babies. Preterm babies can face various health challenges, including short-term effects like difficulty breathing due to underdeveloped respiratory systems, feeding issues due to immature digestive systems, and even problems with brain function, as well as long-term effects like learning impairments, vision and hearing problems, and other chronic health issues and conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy. Davidson County’s overall preterm birth rate of 10.5% is also not good and equals a D+ grade according to the March of Dimes. Top reasons for this include pregnant moms across Tennessee being in an unhealthy weight range, smoking, and having diabetes and hypertension. The report also indicates that birthing people in Tennessee in general have a very high vulnerability to poor outcomes and are most...