CDC: U.S. births climb 1% in 2014

U.S. births rose 1% in 2014 to nearly 4 million, the first increase since 2007, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Birth rates rose 3% for Asian/Pacific Islander women and 1% for white women, and declined 9% for teens, 3% for American Indian/Alaska Native women and 1% for Hispanic women. The Cesarean delivery rate declined 1.5% in 2014 to 32.2% of all births, the lowest rate since 2007. The percentage of infants born before 37 weeks of gestation declined by 0.5% in 2014, to 9.57%, and is down 8% since 2007. In 2012, the AHA Board of Trustees adopted a formal position supporting policies to eliminate early-term, non-medically necessary deliveries, which research has shown can increase health complications for babies.