LAS VEGAS -- One in every seven babies born in Nevada is premature. Those babies are born with a higher incidence of serious health problems and death.
According to the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card for 2012, Nevada earned a "D" which was an improvement over previous years when the Silver State received an "F" grade. Improvement in the grade means healthier babies and a potential savings of millions of dollars. One of the contributing factors was uninsured women who had limited health care during pregnancy.
View Nevada's Report Card
Martha Hammond gave birth to her son Benjamin on a special day.
"He was my 38th birthday present. He was born on my birthday," she said. But her gift came in a package she never expected.
"I was hoping for that bouncing baby boy like everybody wants and he was just so fragile."
Benjamin was born three months early. Premature births are more common in Nevada than many other parts of the country.
"A lot of women are not getting early and adequate pre-natal care and we also have a high rate of smoking during pregnancy," said Michelle Gorelow, March of Dimes.
A premature birth is defined as a child being born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
"We can lose both mother and children in that situation," said Patricia Ramsey, Sunrise Children's Hospital.
Sunrise Children's Hospital and other medical centers across the state are improving the odds for babies born too early. When the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opened at Sunrise in 1976, the survival rate for a pre-term baby was only about 30 percent but that number has increased to about 80 percent due, in part, to modern technology.
Benjamin spent 83 days in the hospital before he was released to go home with his mother.
"Even two years later, you can't help but tear up. He's a miracle," Hammond said.
It took Benjamin longer to develop physically and mentally but now he's walking, talking, and getting ready to celebrate another birthday.
Doctors say they don't always know the exact cause of premature birth. Some of the major risk factors include the age of the mother, chronic illnesses like diabetes, and lack of proper pre-natal care.
Martha Hammond gave birth to her son Benjamin when she was 26 weeks into her pregnancy.
