Fight For Preemies

Today is Blogger's Unite Fight for Preemies Day which is part of Prematurity Awareness month hosted by the March of Dimes.  Here are a few starter facts:

• 1 in 8 babies are born premature in the US (that is approximately 543,000)
• The rate of premature birth has risen 30% since 1981.
• Almost 40% of premature births do not have a known cause.
• The number one known cause is preeclampsia

I have been lucky enough to have had to babies that were both full term or beyond, but admit that having a preemie is always a fear niggling in my mind even though I've known several that have extremely successful stories.  A friend I used to work with at GW had her kids at 28 and 30 weeks respectively.  I did not know her when they were born,  but have continually admired her as a mother and colleague.  I so enjoyed getting to play with and know her children too.  They are awesome!  Her kids have had some physical challenges related to prematurity, but have grown strong together in an amazing family unit.  Another friend had her baby just six weeks early a week after M was born.  I know it was hard and scary, but thanks to the wonderful resources available the little guy is thriving.  My friends have been lucky to have great prenatal care and wonderful hospitals to help them with their preemies.  I so wish that for everyone and hope with more research even more people will have success stories to share.  

The below are facts and resources copied from March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign including places to find more information and ways to help.  Please consider getting more involved in this fight against prematurity and learning what you can do to help.

The serious problem of premature birth

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.

The prematurity campaign

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.

To create awareness for the campaign, March of Dimes has designated November as Prematurity Awareness Month, which allows participants to get involved at various levels.