Prematurity Awareness Month

November is Prematurity awareness month. So, it is fitting for me to talk a little bit about that and the organization that helps to bring awareness to prematurity all the time - the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes is a national organization that helps to raise money for research and programs supporting premature babies, babies with birth defects, and their families. They have educational programs to help mothers have full-term pregnancies and resources for parents of premature babies along with some research that has resulted in wonderful products to help premature babies all over the world. I love the March of Dimes and raise money each year for the organization through the Walk for Babies in April and donate on my own throughout the year when I can. Plus, each day when I go to work, I put in my best effort to help the premature babies under my care and provide support and education to their families. March of Dimes uses 77% of all donations directly for research and programs that support preemies and those born with birth defects. This is huge! The rest goes towards marketing and support staff to help raise money for those beautiful babies.

Two of the greatest accomplishments that March of Dimes has achieved is folic acid and surfactant. Decades ago it was discovered that folic acid supplementation taken before and during pregnancy can help the mother avoid spinal defects in her unborn child. March of Dimes spent lots of time and money to get the knowledge out to the public and help greatly reduce the number of babies born with spinal defects. March of Dimes also did much research to help produce surfactant to help premature babies' lungs. With this, we have been able to save younger babies and get them through their NICU stay with less lung damage.

One in eight babies in this country is born prematurely! All over the world, approximately thirteen million babies are born prematurely - 13 million! Also, the rates of premature birth are rising in countries all over the world at an alarming rate! Many of this babies become angels too early or leave the NICU with on-going health problems that require a lot of care and resources, along with time and money. Prematurity is a huge problem in health care and can cost a huge amount. As we know from current politics - health care costs are rising all over and we may run low on resources at some point in the future. Not all premature births can be prevented, but there are many things that can be done and I believe that in the future medicine will better be able to treat premature babies, and prevent more premature birth.

Please go look at the March of Dimes website and consider donating even a small amount to this wonderful organization. Premature babies all over will thank you.