They were less likely to smoke, but their babies were more likely to arrive too early.
Fewer women smoke during pregnancy.
It was a mixed bag for babies in the 1990s, when there were improvements in several measures that help predict children's well-being, but there were also setbacks. For maps showing the findings by region, click here. The report, which examined trends from 1990 to 1998 in the 50 states and 50 largest cities, said progress varied widely. Differences may be related to socio-economic, demographic and economic factors, with children born to poor women and racial minorities facing greater risks than other new mothers. The nation overall made more progress during the 1990s than did large cities, which lagged behind in almost every measure.