September Is Infant Mortality Awareness Month

The death of a baby before his or her first birthday (infant mortality) remains a sad reality for many parents, and this takes a serious toll on the health and well-being of families. The top five leading causes of infant mortality include:

1. birth defects;
2. preterm birth (Less than 37 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (Less than 5 pounds 8 ounces);
3. maternal complications of pregnancy;
4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; and
5. injuries (suffocation).

What can you do? A woman’s health prior to getting pregnant (preconception) can be the deciding factor on a healthy birth and baby. Good preconception health means living a safe, healthy lifestyle and managing any current health conditions before getting pregnant.

Please visit the following link to learn more on infant mortality and what you can do.