| PREMATURITY AWARENESS DAY | November, 2005 |  |
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Shedding Light on Dear Friend,
We're shedding light on premature birth. On Tuesday, more than 100 landmarks across the country -- including a replica of the Apollo Saturn V Rocket at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama -- were lit pink and blue to call attention to this problem and to serve as beacons of hope for the future of all babies. Rallies, summits and other events nationwide all month are bringing people together to join the effort to address this serious national crisis. The rate of premature birth is skyrocketing. It has increased by 31 percent since 1981, and continues to escalate. Right now, half a million babies are born prematurely in the U.S. each year. That's one every minute of every day. Ask around. You'll probably be surprised at how many of your friends, neighbors, and co-workers have had experience with prematurity. Premature birth kills. In fact, it's the #1 killer of newborns. Some 4,000 babies die each year before they've lived even a month. Babies who do survive may spend the rest of their lives dealing with serious health problems, like blindness, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy. Many people think that a premature baby is simply a small baby who needs a little extra time to catch up. This, all too often, is not the case.. Letting people know that premature birth is a very serious and very common problem is what Prematurity Awareness Day is all about. For up-to-the-minute information on today's events, visit our Prematurity Awareness Day website and find out all you can do for pink and blue. |
Babies are in crisis today! That's why the March of Dimes designated
November 15 as |
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| Dear March of Dimes, | |
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When I was pregnant with my second son, Ben, my blood pressure began to rise. I remember a friend saying to me, "At least you don't have to worry about pre-eclampsia. That only happens if you had it in your first pregnancy." Of course my friend was wrong. In the 25th week of my pregnancy, I was admitted into our town's small hospital. Since it has no NICU, after a spike in my blood pressure I was life-flighted to Riverside Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio. I spent the next 4 weeks (weeks 26-30) on bed rest in the high-risk pregnancy wing at Riverside. I was nearly 2 hours from my home, I missed my two-year-old son (Peter) like crazy, and each day brought new concerns about my rising blood pressure and about Ben's lack of growth. To top it off, all of this took place in December, and spending the holidays in the hospital was a bit dreary, despite the efforts of my friends and family to bring cheer to my bedside.
During the next four months, Ben remained hospitalized at both Riverside and Columbus Children's Hospitals. He underwent numerous procedures. Ben spent 10 weeks on the ventilator, was fed through a nasal gastric tube, and saw ...
Miracles is always looking for stories about new parenthood for our e-mail newsletter. If you would like to share your personal story, please e-mail us. We can't, of course, guarantee that every story will be used. Please keep all submissions to 500 words or less. We'll contact you before using your story. |
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After many ultrasounds and estimates, it was decided that due to
I.U.G.R. (Intrauterine Growth Retardation) Ben was not growing,
and that his chances of survival would increase if he was delivered.
Though my goal was to deliver on January 11, my birthday, Ben was
born on December 28, 2001. He was ten weeks early, weighed 1 pound,
15 ounces, and was the most beautiful, perfect, tiny thing I had
ever seen.
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Pregnant Women, Are You at Risk?
Preterm labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. But they happen more often to some women than to others. Researchers have identified some risk factors, but still cannot predict which women will give birth too early. Having a risk factor does not mean a woman will have preterm labor or premature birth. It means she may be more likely to have preterm labor or birth than other women. Some studies have found that certain lifestyle factors may put a woman at greater risk of preterm labor. These factors include:
Call your health care provider (nurse, doctor or midwife) or go
to the hospital right away if you think you're having preterm labor,
or if you have any of the warning signs. Call even if you have only
one sign.
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| We invite you to help
raise awareness of the problems of premature birth. Follow
links in this e-newsletter and educate yourself. Donate,
if you can.
The March of Dimes foundation was established in 1938 to conquer Polio, and it did. Now we're fighting to defeat premature birth. With your help, we'll do that, too.
Thank you and be
well, |
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This online newsletter is sponsored by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Visit marchofdimes.com to read more. Share your comments, suggestions and feedback on this newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@marchofdimes.com. This newsletter is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. © March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2005 |
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| HOW YOU CAN HELP | |||||||||||||||
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Right now every secure online donation will be matched, dollar for dollar up to a total of $50,000!
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| TIP OF THE MONTH | |||||||||||||||
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Our official online store has shirts, bibs, tote bags and more! Browse various designs such as the March of Dimes Logo, NICU Graduate, Parent of a NICU Graduate, Prematurity Ribbon and Share-Wear. VISIT THE STORE
today!
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| HOLIDAY CARDS | |||||||||||||||
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Purchase holiday greeting cards and benefit the Order your holiday cards securely online.
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