In a recent article, Dr. Herman sheds light on why Colorado ranks high for low birth weight – poverty isn’t to blame
CU Medicine OB-GYN East Denver (Rocky Mountain)’s Dr. Allison Herman was quoted in a recent article exploring why Colorado ranks eighth in the nation for low birth weight babies, a position typically shared by states grappling with high poverty rates and poor access to healthcare. But Colorado’s ranking, Dr. Herman explains, has more to do with geography than economics.
Unlike other high-ranking states where poverty is a major factor, Colorado’s elevation plays a key role. “We recommend that our pregnant patients try to remain under 10,000 feet of elevation,” Dr. Herman writes in her blog offering tips for pregnant people moving to Colorado, which has 14,000 foot mountains. “Spending a short time at a higher elevation is not dangerous, but you may feel lightheaded, dizzy or short of breath.”