According to America’s Health Rankings (2013), 9.9% of South Carolina babies born in 2011 weighed less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces).  The state ranks 47th nationally in percentage of low birth weight babies and received an "F" on last year’s March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. 

March of Dimes recognizes premature birth and fetal growth restriction as the two primary causes of low birth weight, which is associated with a number of newborn conditions, including respiratory distress syndrome, bleeding in the brain, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy of prematurity.  Later in life, babies born with low birth weight may be more likely than babies born at normal weight to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

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