For many parents, having a baby in newborn intensive care is like an emotional roller-coaster ride. One minute their baby is stable, and the next he needs help to breathe. The medical information is complex, and the heartache and fear can be overwhelming. Fortunately, in 74 hospitals families can now turn to March of Dimes NICU Family Support® for information and comfort that makes the NICU a less frightening place. It empowers parents and makes them part of the team caring for their baby.
The March of Dimes customizes the program for each hospital to help them meet their needs and those of the families they serve. Whether in a fully-staffed project or through an electronic kiosk with the latest medical information and online support communities, families now have resources when and where they are most needed. This includes the March of Dimes online community, Share Your Story, a place for families to connect with others who understand the challenges and uncertainties of the NICU experience, and to get health information and support from the March of Dimes.
Is a private appointment in a doctor’s office the best care money can buy? Maybe not. Moms who participate in CenteringPregnancy® programs have more time to ask questions and learn about prenatal care, childbirth and parenting than they would in a traditional appointment. This special group setting empowers moms to do everything they can to have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
In 2008, we increased funding for this program. Growing evidence shows moms are more likely to have full-term pregnancies and to breastfeed their babies when they receive prenatal care this way. Total funding in 2008 was $1.3 million, with typical grants awarded for 1-3 years, primarily to train providers and their staff.
Together we did it! Since 2000, March of Dimes volunteers and staff have worked tirelessly to expand newborn screening, and we’ve reached our goal. Now almost every baby born in the U.S. lives in a state that requires screening for at least 21 of 29 recommended tests for serious conditions. If diagnosed early, these disorders can be successfully managed or treated to prevent death or disability. As recently as 2005, only 38 percent of all newborns lived in states that mandated screening for most treatable disorders.
This is a huge victory for families who could be spared heartache when a single drop of blood could make all the difference.
Support for Families in Crisis
