--- title: Upcoming Conference Focuses on Decreasing the Rate of Preterm Births date: 2009-08-31T19:15:36-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/upcoming-conference-focuses-on-decreasing-the-rate-of-preterm-births" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Upcoming Conference Focuses on Decreasing the Rate of Preterm Births By Christine Cupaiuolo • August 31, 2009 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. About 12.8 percent of babies born in the United States (more than half a million a year) are born prematurely -- meaning before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. The rate of premature birth has increased a stunning 36 percent since the early 1980s. Seventy percent of premature births are late-preterm babie born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. These late-preterm births account for almost all of the increase in single premature births, and experts believe that the increase in the rate of cesarean sections is a contributing factor. [More information](http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1157.asp) on causes, risk factors and costs of premature births is available from the March of Dimes, which is sponsoring a symposium on preventing preterm births Oct. 8-9 in Arlington, Va. The discussion will focus on successful quality improvement programs that prevent preterm births, promote health and reduce costs. For information and to register, go to [www.marchofdimes.com/conferences](http://www.marchofdimes.com/conferences) Conference goals include: • Enhance prematurity prevention efforts in the United States through increased recognition of the importance and efficacy of quality improvement and patient safety programs to reduce prematurity rates. • Generate action plans for stakeholder groups outlining education and interventions to reduce prematurity. • Develop an agenda for action to decrease the rate of preterm births that are not inevitable or medically necessary. The symposium is a collaborative project of the March of Dimes, the [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists](http://www.acog.org/), [American Academy of Pediatrics](http://www.aap.org/), American College of Nurse-Midwives, and [Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses](http://www.awhonn.org/awhonn/). Continuing medical education credit will be provided. The early bird registration fee is $200. After Sept. 11, the fee is $250. --- #### 1 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **Elizabeth** on Sep 01, 2009 Wow. This is great. I hope they bring up the work of Dr. Brewer- www.blueribbonbaby.org ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Pregnancy & Childbirth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/pregnancy-childbirth) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)