U.S. births rise for first time in eight years; births to teenagers still falling.

According to a report of the National Center for Health Statistics the number of births in the US in 1998 had risen by 2% since 1997. Data showed that the number of births had climbed to 3941553 in 1998 and the fertility rate had risen 1% in 1998 to 65.6 births per 1000 women aged 15-44 after an 8% decrease during 1990-97. Unlike other age groups women in their 30s reached the highest recorded level in 3 decades. In contrast the teenage birth rate continued its 7-year decline decreasing by 2% to 51.1 births per 1000 women aged 15-19; the rate among 15-17 year olds reached a record low. Finally while overall rates of preterm birth and low birth weight showed a slight increase in 1998 the proportion of women receiving prenatal care in the first trimester had increased 10% since 1989.