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Tennessee - No place to have a baby?
Posted By katie allison granju
At least that’s what the folks at Fit Pregnancy say in their annual survey of the best and worst American cities in which to have a baby. Knoxville wasn’t on the list at all, but Nashville and Memphis are, and suffice it to say, the reviews aren’t glowing.
Among the findings:
Compared to other states, Tennessee has among the least generous family-leave and disability laws in our survey.
According to data from the CDC, maternal mortality in Tennessee is especially high.
12 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That’s the 4th worst score in our survey, compared to an average of 5 percent.
32 percent of babies in Tennessee are born via Cesarean section, among the highest in our survey. The average is 27 percent.
By six months of age, 67 percent of Nashville-Davidson babies aren’t being breastfed at all. That’s the 8th poorest percentage of any city in our report. The average for cities in our survey is 57 percent.
Once Nashville-Davidson mothers begin breastfeeding, they are 18 percent less likely than average to continue through 6 months. That’s the 5th lowest level of follow-through of any city in our report.
Memphis babies are 34 percent more likely than average to be born with low birth weight.
Babies (in Memphis) are 25 percent more likely than average to be born prematurely.
20 percent of pregnant women (in Memphis) receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That’s the 1st worst score in our survey, compared to an average of 5 percent.
Memphis has 6 midwives for every 1,000 births, the 2nd lowest in our survey. The national average is 37 midwives for every 1,000 births.
Memphis has 11 lactation consultants for every 10,000 live births, the 9th lowest ratio in our survey. The average city in our survey has 23 lactation consultants per 10,000 live births.
Jan 23rd, 2008
