A day to celebrate preemies

Premature birth is something that affects families globally. Nearly a half million babies in the United States are born premature each year according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The March of Dimes states that premature birth is the leading killer of America’s newborns. Babies that survive can have lifelong health problems such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, blindness, and hearing loss. Even if a woman does everything “right” throughout her pregnancy, she can still end up in premature labor.

A Mother’s Story

Chance and Sienna arrived at a little over 27 weeks of gestation – and threw a surprise wrench into their parent’s New Year’s plans. Chance weighed in at two pounds, three ounces, while Sienna arrived at one pound, 15 ounces. They both faced many challenges, including gastrointestinal problems that required surgical intervention. Their story has a happy ending – four months after making their debut, they had grown healthy and strong enough to go home. “We will forever be grateful to the NICUs, doctors, nurses, and staff who fought along with us to save our babies,” said their mother.

World Prematurity Day is November 17

Fifteen million babies are born prematurely every year worldwide, and November 17 is World Prematurity Day. It’s a day to raise awareness of preterm birth, as well as to honor globally these special babies and their families.

How to Raise Awareness and Help Preemies

March of Dimes shares ways you can spread the word and support World Prematurity Day:

• Like the World Prematurity Day page on Facebook.
• Use your network to spread the word! Post personal stories or facts about premature birth on your social networks. Here are some sample updates and tweets.

Facebook:

I support World Prematurity Day and am speaking out for the 15 million babies who are born too soon each year. Like or share, and join me in ending premature birth at http://on.fb.me/j8AcLi.

Twitter:

On #worldprematurityday, I honor the 1.1 million babies who died this year because they were born too soon: http://on.fb.me/j8AcLi

• Ask your family and friends to change their status to show support.
• If you have a blog, dedicate a post to premature birth.
• Send an email to your network describing what World Prematurity Day is, and how you can spread the word. Here is a sample email message:

November 17 is World Prematurity Day. Every year around the world, 15 million babies are born prematurely. A million of them never get to celebrate their first birthday, and many more face serious, lifelong health challenges.

In the United States, almost half a million babies are born too soon. Raising awareness of this serious problem is the first step to defeating it. Visit and like facebook.com/worldprematurityday, then change your status to show your support. Share stories, spread hope and save lives.

Learn about the progress we’re making in preventing premature birth at marchofdimes.com.

P.S. Please forward this message to everyone you know who cares about babies. Tell them you’re getting involved and ask them to join.

• Get involved locally! Contact your community hospital or NICU to see what they are doing to make the public aware of prematurity and get the need for the specialized care these babies require.
• Donate online at marchofdimes.com/giving
• Organize a Blue Jeans for Babies day at work where your colleagues contribute to wear jeans for the day. If jeans are already permitted, ask your co-workers to wear purple or purchase a March of Dimes wristband or pin.
• Set up a coin box either at work or at a community event to ask people to donate during the week leading up to World Prematurity Day
• At the end of November, thank everyone for helping to raise awareness and for his or her support.

We are proud to support World Prematurity Day, a day that brings awareness, thanks, and support to preemies, parents of premature infants, NICUs, and prematurity professionals. Please join us to honor and celebrate preemies worldwide.