A new report from the March of Dimes on preterm births is out and the D.C. area gets middle of the road to poor marks.

The report gives D.C. a grade of “F,” as 898 babies were born premature in the District in 2024.

The city ranks 45th of 52, including all states and Puerto Rico, with a preterm birth rate of 11.8%.

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By comparison, the country has a preterm birth rate of 10.4%, according to the report which gives the U.S. an overall grade of “D-plus.”

“It’s a dark week for D.C., for moms and babies,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kielb

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