There is no progress being made by Virginia in reducing the number of preterm babies. In a March of Dimes report card, the Commonwealth got a D, second time in a row.

The report found 12.1 percent of babies born in Virginia are premature. The national goal is 7.6 percent so there is still a long way to go.

Betty Loudermilk, Greater Blue Ridge Division Director for March of Dimes said, “It's deftly a problem of a higher risk of dying in the first month, premature babies are also at higher risk for developmental delays, long term learning disabilities, and psychological problems.”

This is the reason that the march of dimes has fought for many changes in Virginia including the restaurant smoking ban which is going to be effective from December.

It also made lot of effort to encourage women to take folic acid to prevent birth defects. One more initiative that has been taken is to get the state to pass a bill so that all the newborns get 29 tests before leaving the hospital.