During November, Prematurity Awareness Month, March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on the impact premature birth has on babies and families and communities. In Nevada, more than 5,000 babies were born too soon last year.

“It’s time for our country to do more to help moms have healthy, full-term babies,” said Dale Andreason, March of Dimes Nevada Chapter state director. “Our goal is to get the crisis of premature birth on the nation’s health care agenda. That’s why we’re asking everyone to sign the March of Dimes Petition for Preemies at www.marchofdimes.com/petition. The number of people who sign can really make a difference.”

Preterm birth is a serious and costly health problem and is the leading cause of death in the first month of life. One in every eight babies is born too soon each year in the United States, and the preterm birth rate has increased more than 20 percent since 1990. Preterm birth costs the nation more than $26 billion a year, according to an Institute of Medicine report released in 2006.

Babies who survive an early birth face the risk of serious life-long health problems including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma. Even infants born just a few weeks too soon have a greater risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), feeding difficulties, temperature instability (hypothermia), jaundice and delayed brain development.

National March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign Partners are the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the America Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and 45 other maternal and infant health organizations. National Prematurity Campaign sponsors include CIGNA, FedEx, and Motherhood Maternity. 

For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.