Births in the US Increase for the First Time Since 1990

A March 28, 2000, report from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that the birthrate in the United States rose in 1998 for the first time since 1990. Births: Final Data for 1998, shows that 3,941,553 babies were born in 1998, a 2% increase from 1997. The birth rate (the number of births per 1,000 population) and the fertility rate (the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44) also increased slightly in 1998.

The increase was fueled by increases in birth rates for women in their 20's, the principal childbearing ages, and for women in their 30's. Birth rate for women aged 20-24 increased in 1998 after falling 6% during the 1990's, and birth rates for women in their 30's are now at their highest levels in at least three decades.

Teen birth rate. The birth rate for teens (aged 15-19 years) dropped 2% in 1998, to 51.1 per 1,000 teens. The teen birth rate dropped in all states, and overall teen birth rates declined by 18% from 1991 to 1998

Multiple births. Twin births also continued to increase in 1998, by 6% to 110,670 -- the largest single year increase in several decades -- and the number of triplets and other higher order multiple births climbed 13% to 7,625. Since 1980, the twin birth rate has risen 49% and the triplet and other higher order multiple birth rate has risen 423%.

Births to unmarried women. Driven by the growing number of unmarried women of childbearing age (15-44), the number of births to unmarried women rose to 1,293,567 (44.3 births per 1,000 unmarried women) in 1998. However, the teen out-of-wedlock birth rate dropped again in 1998, to 41.5 births per 1,000 unmarried teens, down 11% from its high in 1994.

Cesarean delivery. An increase in the rate of cesarean delivery for the first time since 1989 and a decline in the rate of vaginal birth following a previous cesarean delivery.

Premature births. The rate of premature births (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation) rose to 11.6% in 1998, and has risen 9% since 1990 and 23 percent since 1981. The low birthweight rate (less than 5.5 pounds) also continued to rise, increasing to 7.6% for 1998. The low birthweight rate has risen quite steadily since the mid-1980's. The upswing in the overall levels of preterm and low birthweight births is influenced in part by the increase in multiple births; multiples tend to be born earlier and smaller than singletons.

Premature births. The proportion of women beginning prenatal care in the first trimester rose again for the 9th consecutive year, to 82.8% in 1998. Timely care has risen 10% during the 1990's.

Tobacco use and pregnancy. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy declined again in 1998, to 12.9%, continuing a trend observed since 1989. However, tobacco use by pregnant teenagers continued to increase in 1998, particularly for non-Hispanic black teens.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.