For infants in the first year of life, a good start begins with a healthy full-term pregnancy, a delivery without complications, a healthy and safe home environment, and good nutrition, including breastfeeding if possible. CDC works to make this healthy foundation possible for all infants.
The earlier an infant is born, the more likely they are to need intensive care and a long hospital stay, with higher medical costs. Premature infants are also more likely to have lifelong health problems, like cerebral palsy, developmental delays, chronic lung disease, and vision problems.
About 1 in 10 infants is born prematurely in the United States. The rate of preterm birth among Black women is about 50% higher than that of White women, and infant death rates related to preterm birth are about twice as high for Black infants than for White infants.
Preventing and Managing Chronic Conditions
Some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, increase the risk of preterm birth, and these conditions are increasing among US women of reproductive age. CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion works to prevent and control these conditions among women of reproductive age through its nutrition, physical activity, and obesity programs; its diabetes program; and its heart disease and stroke program. A key part of this work is the effort to reduce health disparities, which are differences in health across different geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
