Births Insights
10 reports tagged births.
Twins, Triplets, and Maternal Age (2025)
About one in thirty-three U.S. births is a multiple, the odds climb with the mother's age, and three in four twins are delivered by cesarean.
Smoking During Pregnancy (2025)
Fewer than two in a hundred mothers now smoke during pregnancy, but the rate is many times higher among those who did not finish school.
When Prenatal Care Begins (2025)
Three in four U.S. mothers start prenatal care in the first trimester, but a small share get none, and both track closely with education.
Births to Unmarried Mothers (2025)
About two in five U.S. births are to unmarried mothers, but the rate ranges from the overwhelming majority of teen births to a small minority among the most educated.
Who Pays for America's Births (2025)
Medicaid pays for roughly two in five U.S. births, just behind private insurance, and for the majority of births to younger mothers.
America's Mothers Are Getting Older (2025)
More than one in five U.S. births is now to a mother 35 or older, while teen births have fallen to a historic low.
Preterm Birth in America (2025)
About one in eight U.S. babies is born early. The risk is highest for the youngest and oldest mothers, and for twins and triplets.
How Much American Babies Weigh (2025)
The average newborn is about 7.2 pounds, but twins, triplets, and smoking push a large share into low birth weight.
Who Gets a Cesarean (2025)
Nearly a third of U.S. births are cesareans, and the rate rises steeply with the mother's age and with twins and triplets.
Why So Few Babies Are Born on Weekends (2025)
Births cluster on weekdays and thin out on weekends, not for any natural reason, but because inductions and cesareans are scheduled on business days.