November is Prematurity Awareness Month

Did you know that November 17th is prematurity awareness day and that November is prematurity awareness month?? Did you know that after 82 days in the NICU, Gavin came home on November 17th, 2004? I get choked up just thinking about it!

In this month of thankfulness, I will always be the most thankful that the work of the March of Dimes gave us the chance to raise Gavin to be the healthy, spunky, crazy, smart boy that he is today. We are so incredibly lucky, but ours is just one story, and there are many others with less than happy endings. There is still a lot of work to be done.

Please take a moment to read the message below from the March of Dimes. And please take a moment to be thankful for all the children in our lives. Sick, healthy, full term, or preemie, more than likely you have been touched by the work of this organization.

Every year, more than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States. The rate of premature birth has risen by 30 percent since 1981.

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk of lifelong disabilities. Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year.

In 2003, the Prematurity Campaign was launched to address the crisis and help families have healthy, full-term babies. In 2008, the March of Dimes Board of Trustees extended the Prematurity Campaign globally, and in 2009 the March of Dimes released the first global estimates showing the serious toll of preterm birth worldwide.

The March of Dimes works different channels of influence to reduce premature birth rates. One way is to raise public awareness of the serious issue and to invest in education of moms-to-be and health care providers. We also support medical advances and knowledge. Every year, new promising research studies are funded through our Prematurity Research Initiative. Advocacy efforts have opened the door to more federal funding for prematurity research and education.

The campaign is already showing signs of success, including a recent 3 percent decline in the premature birth rate. With more than 1,400 babies born too soon every day, much work is still to be done.

Find out how you can get involved by visiting the March of Dimes web site.