San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Office (MCAH) is committed to helping prevent preterm birth and infant death. MCAH is connecting people with resources to prevent preterm birth.
Preterm birth is the #1 cause of infant death
Over 500 babies are born preterm in San Francisco each year
Preterm care costs 10x more than the average hospital cost in California
Call 800-300-9950 (SFDPH MCAH Office) if you know anyone at risk or pregnant with these risk factors
Over 90% of people who had a preterm birth in San Francisco during 2023 to 2025 had two or more of these risk factors before 37 weeks of pregnancy:
- 3 or more children
- Age over 35
- Previous preterm birth
- Fetal loss or miscarriage
- Address in zip code 94124, 94133, 94115, 94103, 94102, 94112, 94134, 94158, 94132, or 94105
- Public health insurance or low income
- Homeless or address in public housing, SRO, or shelter
- Physically demanding work (like lifting, bending, standing, security)
- Nutrition issue
- Smoking or substance use
- Asthma
- High blood pressure (>130/80)
- High blood sugar
- Infection
- Ultrasound showing poor fetal growth
