Areana Coles listens during a prenatal appointment at the Oklahoma State University obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Tulsa, Okla., last year. Associated Press File Photo

Mary Conlon

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 rate 1.9 times the national average.

One major hurdle for improving infant mortality is making sure mothers get adequate prenatal care. And in the U.S., there was a 16% increase in the number of mothers who didn’t get adequate prenatal care.

There are no simple solutions to any of these problems. The progress that’s been made in reducing infant mortality came as the result of tireless advocacy from groups like March of Dimes.

There is obviously more to be done, from ensuring all expectant mothers have access to quality health care to making sure there are consistent standards of care nationwide.

We can do better for mothers and children, and the latest report card shows exactly how much room there still is for improvement.

— JK