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Anemia during pregnancy is a common occurrence and often due to iron deficiency. It is a global public health problem, affecting an estimated 37% of pregnant individuals, according to the World Health Organization. Iron deficiency anemia is associated with increased rates of pregnancy-related problems, such as going into labor prematurely, hemorrhaging and, in some cases, even death. For the infant, maternal iron deficiency also can have long-term implications on their overall health and development.

Preterm birth―defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy—is one of the leading causes of infant deaths in the United States. Babies born prematurely are also at an increased risk of having serious health problems. Yet despite advancements in many areas of obstetrics, little progress has been made to reduce the number of preterm births or improve neonatal outcomes. For the third consecutive year, the March of Dimes Annual Report Card has given the United States a D+ for the country’s persistently high preterm birth rate.

Preterm birth―defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy—is one of the leading causes of infant deaths in the United States. Babies born prematurely are also at an increased risk of having serious health problems. Yet despite advancements in many areas of obstetrics, little progress has been made to reduce the number of preterm births or improve neonatal outcomes. For the third consecutive year, the March of Dimes Annual Report Card has given the United States a D+ for the country’s persistently high preterm birth rate.