The March of Dimes has designated November as Prematurity Awareness Month - to send the alert that premature birth is a crisis in our country and to bring people together to help give all babies their 9 months.  (http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6185_15859.asp)

Babies are in crisis today. Nearly half a million are born prematurely every year and the number is rising. Across Indiana the March of Dimes is organizing events raise awareness as part of its national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and a major cause of serious health problems. It costs society billions of dollars every year. Here in Indiana, more than 10,600 babies are born prematurely each year, about 1 in 8.  Activities across South Central Indiana include:

• November 1-31 March of Dimes Ambassador stories broadcast on radio stations in South Central Indiana.
• November 1 -31, Pink and Blue Ribbons on trees in Downtown Columbus.
• November 15th 6:30 PM, Prematurity Candlelight Roll Call at One Chamber Square, on the corner of Chestnut St. and Jeffersonville Ave., downtown Seymour
• November 15th 6:30pm, Prematurity Candlelight Roll Call at Columbus City Hall.
• Mayoral proclamations for Prematurity Awareness Day in Bloomington, Columbus, Seymour, and North Vernon.
• “Signs of premature labor” flyers on pizza boxes at select pizza delivery companies in Columbus, Seymour, Bedford and North Vernon.
• Fazoli's Awareness Night in Columbus is November 8th.
• Fazoli's Awareness Week in Bloomington is November 14th-20th.
• Teams are doing P&BJFB.
• Jennings County High School students are doing a Prematurity Awareness display at their school on November 15th.
• Comcast running PSA’s across the division.

For more information contact Kimberly Jewell or Rick Reed at the South Central Indiana Division of the March of Dimes Indiana Chapter at 812-372-5400 and visit marchofdimes.com and find out what you can do for pink and blue to help prevent premature birth. You can send a message of hope for premature babies by wearing pink and blue, raising awareness with wristbands, car magnets and ribbons, sending e-mails and letters, and supporting research. Visit marchofdimes.com to help give all babies their 9 months during November – Prematurity Awareness Month – and any time of year.