March of Dimes Launches $75 Million, Five-Year Campaign to Uncover the Causes of the #1 Obstetric Problem in the United States: Prematurity
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Premature births have risen 27% since 1981, now accounting for 476,000 of the 4 million babies delivered each year in this country. Although prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death, surveys have found that only 1 in 3 Americans recognizes prematurity as a problem. Furthermore, nearly half of premature births happen for unknown reasons.
March of Dimes has funded several treatments given in neonatal intensive care units to help many of these premature babies survive. But even as our neonatal intensive care units get better, many don’t survive, and others may suffer lifelong consequences such as cerebral palsy and blindness. |
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This is a picture of Logan. Logan’s mom went into pre-term labor and delivered him nearly 3 months early on August 20. When this picture was taken, he weighed 2 pounds 3 ounces. After putting up a good fight in the NICU for 4 months, Logan died on December 23.
This can not go on. March of Dimes is therefore allocating $75 million over the next 5 years to finding the causes of premature birth.
Our goals are to:
- Increase the awareness of premature birth from 35% to 60%, through educating pregnant women and their physicians and publicity activities
- Reduce the number of premature births by 15%, through research and advocating for federal support.
Using the current rate of premature births, this amounts to 73,000 babies annually who will not have to suffer from the consequences of a premature birth.
March of Dimes history, track record and our mission to improve infant health uniquely qualify the March of Dimes to embark on this hefty campaign. But we can't do this alone. We challenge the public to help fight prematurity, and there are many ways you can get involved. One is to create booties, hats, or blankets for one of the 11,000 babies that will be born prematurely between January 30 and July 30 in northern California (see our preemie patterns). March of Dimes will then donate these items to local hospitals. Another way to help is to raise money for WalkAmerica, taking place this Spring throughout northern California.
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Donating is easy online, by phone or mail / fax.
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