This week, March of Dimes, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the health of mothers and infants, released a distressing report card on the state of maternal health in the U.S.

The nation earned a grade of D+, with between 10.4% and 10.7% of all births happen before the mother’s due date. That can lead to a host of health problems for both the mother and the newborn.

Pennsylvania earned a better grade, with a C, and placed 17th out of all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Its pre-term birth rate is 9.8%, and it ranks in the top 10 states for lowest rates of maternal mortality.

The numbers show both progress over the last few decades and more work to be done. Over the last 20 years, infant mortality has fallen about 20%, but babies born to Black mothers have an infant mortality

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