Experiencing fewer births and more poor patients on Medicaid, Sunrise-based Pediatrix Medical Group's (PDX) third-quarter profits fell 5.5 percent to $37.4 million or 81 cents a share.

Acquisitions of neonatal and anesthesia practices in the past year pushed revenue higher, to $267.2 million. Revenue at units owned at least a year declined 2.2 percent.

Patient volume in neonatal intensive care units, Pediatrix's core business, declined 3.4 percent in the quarter. CEO Roger Medel said women are ``simply having fewer babies.''

For the fourth quarter, Pediatrix envisions a profit of 77 to 81 cents per share, slightly below analysts' consensus.

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