Declines in Triplet and Higher-order Multiple Births in the United States, 1998-2023.

Objectives: This report explores changes in the overall rate of triplet and higher-order births from 1998 to 2023 by detailed plurality, maternal race and Hispanic origin, and age.

Methods: Data are from the National Vital Statistics System birth files. Triplet and higher-order birth rates (number of triplet and higher-order births per 100,000 births) from 1998 to 2023 are presented.

Births in the United States, 2023.

Objectives: This report presents 2023 data on U.S. births compared with 2022 and 2021 for several key demographic and maternal and infant characteristics.

Births: Final Data for 2022.

Objectives- This report presents 2022 data on U.S. births by selected characteristics.

Shifts in the Distribution of Births by Gestational Age: United States, 2014-2022.

Objectives-This report presents changes in the distribution of singleton births by gestational age in the United States for 2014-2022, by maternal age and race and Hispanic origin. Methods-Data are based on all birth certificates for singleton births registered in the United States from 2014 to 2022. Gestational age is measured in completed weeks using the obstetric estimate and categorized as early preterm (less than 34 weeks), late preterm (34-36 weeks), total preterm (less than 37 weeks), early term (37-38 weeks), full term (39-40 weeks), and late- and post-term (41 and later weeks).

Trends in Cesarean Delivery in Puerto Rico, 2018-2022.

Cesarean delivery is major surgery associated with higher costs and adverse outcomes, such as surgical complications, compared with vaginal delivery (1-3). The cesarean delivery rate in Puerto Rico rose from just over 30% in the early to mid-1990s to over 40% by the early 2000s (4,5). During this time, cesarean delivery rates in Puerto Rico were 40%-70% higher than rates in the U.

Births in the United States, 2022.

This report presents selected highlights from 2022 final birth data on key demographic, healthcare utilization, and infant health indicators. The number of births, general fertility rates (GFRs) (births per 1,000 females aged 15-44), age-specific birth rates (births per 1,000 women in specified age group), and cesarean delivery and preterm (less than 37 weeks of gestation) birth rates are presented. Results for 2020, 2021, and 2022 are shown for all births to describe changes in birth patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic years (1,2).

Characteristics of Mothers by Source of Payment for the Delivery: United States, 2021.

Access to health care coverage during pregnancy and delivery allows women to receive the care needed to maximize the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and baby (1). National birth certificate data on the principal source of payment for the delivery became available in 2016, when all states implemented the 2003 U.S.

Changes in Prenatal Care Utilization:United States, 2019-2021.

Objectives-This report describes changes in prenatal care use (utilization) in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic by month of birth and the mother's race and Hispanic origin.

Declines in Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy in the United States, 2016-2021.

Smoking during pregnancy is an established risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and health issues for newborns later in life (1-3). National birth certificate data on cigarette smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked before and during pregnancy first became available in 2016. These data allow for the analysis of maternal cigarette use during pregnancy by numerous maternal and infant characteristics.

Births: Final Data for 2021.

Objectives-This report presents 2021 data on U.S. births according to a variety of characteristics.

Changes in Home Births by Race and Hispanic Origin and State of Residence of Mother: United States, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

Objectives-This report describes changes between 2019 and 2020 in the percentage of U.S. home births by month, race and Hispanic origin, and state of residence of the mother and makes comparisons with changes occurring between 2018 and 2019.

Births: Final Data for 2019.

Objectives-This report presents 2019 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics.

Births in the United States, 2019.

This report presents selected highlights from 2019 final birth data on key demographic, health care utilization, and infant health indicators. General fertility rates (the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44), prenatal care timing (the percentage of mothers with first trimester care), source of payment for the delivery (the percentage of births covered by Medicaid), and preterm birth rates are presented. All indicators are compared between 2018 and 2019 and are presented for all births and for the three largest race and Hispanic-origin groups: non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic.

Recent Trends in Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: United States, 2016-2018.

For the first time since 2004 (1), national data on vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) became available in 2016 after all reporting areas implemented the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth.

Is Twin Childbearing on the Decline? Twin Births in the United States, 2014-2018.

Following years of relative stability, twin births began to climb in the United States in the early 1980s, rising 79% from 1980 to 2014 (1,2). In 1980, one in every 53 births was a twin, compared with one in every 29 births in 2014 (1,2). The increase in twinning over the more than three decades was widespread, occurring across age and race and Hispanic-origin groups, and in all U.

Births: Final Data for 2017.

Objectives-This report presents 2017 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics.

Births in the United States, 2017.

This report presents selected highlights from 2017 final birth data on key demographic, health care utilization, and infant health indicators. General fertility rates (the number of births per 1,000 females aged 15-44 years) and teen birth rates are presented by race and Hispanic origin. The use of Medicaid as the source of payment for the delivery and preterm birth rates are presented by the age of the mother.

Describing the Increase in Preterm Births in the United States, 2014-2016.

Infants born before 37 weeks of gestation, commonly referred to as preterm, are at greater risk of early death than those born later in pregnancy and can suffer numerous health and developmental problems, especially at earlier gestational ages (1-3). The incidence of preterm birth in the United States rose from the early 1980s through 2006 but declined from 2007 through 2014 (4-6). Recent data for 2014-2016, however, indicate that the preterm rate is on the rise again (6).

Timing and Adequacy of Prenatal Care in the United States, 2016.

This report describes prenatal care utilization in the United States for 2016, based on the trimester of pregnancy in which prenatal care began and the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization (APNCU) Index, by selected maternal characteristics. Data are from the 2016 national birth file and are based on 100% of births registered to residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. All data are based on the 2003 revision of the U.

Births: Final Data for 2016.

This report presents 2016 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics.

Maternal Characteristics of Prenatal WIC Receipt in the United States, 2016.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal anemia through intervention during pregnancy (1). Prenatal WIC receipt is associated with lower infant mortality and stronger cognitive development among toddlers and children (2,3). All states and the District of Columbia reported information on maternal receipt of WIC food during pregnancy on the birth certificate for the first time in 2016 based on the question, “Did you receive WIC food for yourself because you were pregnant with this child?” This report describes prenatal WIC receipt in the United States in 2016 by state and by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and education.

Births in the United States, 2016.

This report presents several key demographic and maternal and infant health indicators using 2016 final birth data. Trends in the general fertility rate (the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15–44), age-specific birth rates, cesarean delivery, preterm, and triplet and higher-order multiple birth rates are presented by age of mother. For each indicator, data for 2016 are compared with 2015, and also with a year representing a recent high or low rate.