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Almost every hour of every day across the country, a growing risk is born inside delivery rooms.

More and more doctors are delivering premature babies.

To raise awareness, the March of Dimes released a premie report card. They gave the United States a "D" because more than half a million babies, or one out of eight, are born prematurely every year. South Carolina did even worse, getting a failing grade.

Premature birth is a leading cause of infant death and a major cause of lifelong disability.

They are fragile, tiny and weigh only a few pounds after entering the world weeks, even months early. The health of those premature babies is a big burden for parents.

Every day Celena Bearden is around tiny babies fighting big battles. She's a neonatal intensive care nurse. Bearden knows the high number of health risks infants face when they're born before 37 weeks.

That knowledge made it even more scary during her first pregnancy. Her delivery dream turned into a preterm nightmare. She gave birth to a premature baby boy. Bearden prayed her son would make it. That was five years ago. Now her little boy, Bennett, is in kindergarten. She says having him makes her more understanding.

Dr. Anthony Gregg says a healthy lifestyle is key to helping your baby reach that 37-week mark, but there are no guarantees.

Bearden's second child was able to reach full term with extensive prenatal care.

That's something she, Gregg and many others want to see happen more often.