Michigan: This is the Riskiest City in the State to Have a Baby

If you want a baby in Michigan, note that it's risky. That's according to the latest March of Dimes report card, which gives the state a grade of D+ for infant mortality. As bad as that sounds, it's better than a lot of states across America when it comes to that ranking. I'm surprised by the failing grades for states across the U.S. One Michigan city is also the riskiest city to have a baby.

The March of Dimes Report Card highlights vital indicators describing maternal and infant health in America. "We continue to provide updated rates and grades for preterm birth and data on infant mortality and maternal health," the report states. "New this year is the inclusion of maternal mortality, leading causes of infant death, and data describing selected risk factors for preterm birth." So, let's get into the numbers. According to the report, the preterm birth rate in Pennsylvania was 9.6%  in 2022, lower than in 2021. That's good news. But that's where the positive news ends. Looking at their graph, preterm birth rates have been increasing for the majority of the past decade. That's not a trend we want to see. But, it's promising that the rate did decline between 2021 and 2022. However, the report states that " Birthing people in Pennsylvania have a moderate vulnerability to poor outcomes and are most vulnerable due to mental health and substance use." They add that "The infant mortality rate among babies born to Black birthing people is 2x the state rate."

Now, let's get into the riskiest areas in Michigan to have a baby. Topping the list, according to the March of Dimes, is Detroit as the riskiest city. It has a preterm birth rate of 14.5% and a grade of F. As for counties, Wayne got an F, Genesee got an F, Macomb got a D, Kent got a C-, and Oakland got a C+. Find the complete list for Michigan here.