Every year, the March of Dimes releases its report card on the state of maternal and infant health in the United States. This year’s 2025 report paints a picture many families will recognize: pregnancy and postpartum care in America is still far too fragmented, and parents are navigating that reality while trying to protect their health and their babies.
The national preterm birth grade remains a D+ (which is the same as last year's ranking), with the preterm birth rate stuck at 10.4% for the third year in a row. More states saw their numbers worsen than improve, and many of the country’s largest cities received failing grades. That means too many babies are still being born too early, and too many families are facing fear and uncertainty during what should be a supported, warm season of life.
Behind the grades are real families and parents and their babies.
The report highlights issues that show up in the real stories we at Mahmee hear about and tackle every day. Some of the hardest stats to read from the report include:
For many families, especially those juggling work, childcare, and complicated medical systems, this feels overwhelming. Parents often have to decode warning signs alone or figure out how to get timely support in the middle of a health crisis, or figure out if they can push back on a potentially unnecessary procedure. This in itself is part of the problem.
A preterm birth impacts the entire family’s emotional, financial, and physical well-being. The uncertainty, the medical decisions, and the constant monitoring can leave parents feeling anxious and isolated.
The report also shows how deeply social and economic factors shape outcomes. A mom’s ZIP code, access to specialists, insurance type, and available community support all influence the care she receives - and it shouldn't have to be that way.
But one of the most telling numbers is this: Over 20,000 babies in the U.S. did not make it to their first birthday last year.
This is one heartbreaking reason to rebuild the village that every family needs right now.
At Mahmee, we believe no parent should navigate pregnancy, birth, or postpartum alone and un-empowered. So what do families need right now? Nurses, doulas, lactation consultants, mental health specialists, nutritionists, and more, all in one place, providing guidance and support to catch issues before they become emergencies, and continuity of care. This is critical so that moms and babies don't continue to fall through the cracks between appointments across different providers.
Whether or not these numbers improve (and we know they will), we are here to support you at every step of your pregnancy; This is the reason we do what we do.
