The number of premature babies born each year continues to be a problem in Wyoming, officials said Tuesday.

A report released today by the March of Dimes said more than 13 percent of babies in Wyoming were born prematurely in 2005, the most current data available. The national rate was 12.7 percent.

Kim Summerall, director of Wyoming State Chapter of the March of Dimes, said the state saw a 22 percent increase in the rate of babies born prematurely from 1995 to 2005.

"We do know things have been getting more difficult between 2005 and the end of 2008," Summerall said.

A growing population, a recent rise in teen pregnancy and increase in mothers without health insurance have added to the state's problem of babies born prematurely, or before 37 weeks, Summerall said.

Wyoming Medical Center transferred about 25 premature babies out of state for medical care in the first two months of this year, according to Cheryl Graff, coordinator of women's services at the hospital. In prior years, the hospital averaged about 25 a year.

No hospitals in the state have a Level III neonatal unit - what babies born prematurely usually need for treatment.

She said a premature baby takes an emotional and financial strain on families.

"Even near-term babies at 35 or 36 weeks that don't need to be transferred," Graff said, "people think, 'Oh, they're doing OK. They're five pounds.' But the baby might have to stay a few days.

"There is nothing worse than being discharged without your baby," Graff said.

A baby's brain is only two-thirds of the way developed at 35 weeks, according to Donna Langelier, program services director for the state chapter of March of Dimes.

A premature baby can have problems breathing, gaining weight, sleeping or developing at a normal pace that can continue throughout life.

The March of Dimes report examined several contributing factors, including access to health care, smoking and rate of late preterm births, or 34 to 36 weeks.

In Wyoming about one in five women of childbearing age are uninsured and about one in four women of childbearing age smoke.

A rise in late preterm births has been linked to increasing rates in Cesarean sections and early labor inductions at hospitals, according to the report.

Summerall said one of their initiatives will be to work with hospitals to assess their labor induction and Cesarean section policies.

Other initiatives include urging the federal government to support further study of premature births, insuring all women and educating teens.

Even though the report did not examine teen pregnancy, Langielier said it has increased over the past few years.

"The body isn't mature, ready," Langelier said. "They usually don't get prenatal care. Most of the time they are in denial and say, 'It can't happen to me.'"

The report highlighted how Wyoming and most states are far behind their goal of reducing premature births to 7.6 percent of all births by 2010. The report gave Wyoming a D grade for reducing premature births along with 23 other states.

"We want good schools, good communities, good families for children," Summerall said. "Now we want a good, healthy start in life."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.