The month of November is Prematurity Awareness Month and each year 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick - half a million of them in the United States. On November 17th I'll be participating in the March of Dimes' Fight for Preemies blogging event. I urge you too, to join me in this event!Ask Yourself: Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.
Me: I have had the oppurtunity on several occasions to work with and love many premature babies over the last ten years. The Elkins Triplets were born at 32weeks,1day, the Harrington Triplets were born at 33weeks and my neice Emmalee was born just shy of 36 weeks gestation. On November 17, I will be posting a special blog post honoring these three familes specifically but in hopes of giving other people hope about premature births. Just today a wonderful family in my ward delivered their son at 27 weeks, he is doing well right now and thanks to the amazing medical advances, he has a great outlook to have a happy, healthy, normal life.
According to Bloggers Unite: Fight For Preemies, medical advances give even the tiniest babies a chance of survival, yet for many babies premature birth is still a life or death condition. It’s the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. And babies who survive face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.
The rate of premature birth has never been higher. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. We need to fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.
November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers like you to get involved.
- Learn about premature birth at marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies
- Put a badge on your blog during November, Prematurity Awareness Month®
- On November 17, blog for a baby you love and to help others
1 comment:
Thank you so much for posting on this important topic. Both my husband and one grandson were born prematurely. It's a frightening ride. Now it's time for all of us to fight for preemies.
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