| E-MAIL NEWSLETTER | December, 2003 |  |
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Dear Friend,
I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season. We are all looking forward to a great 2004. As one of our friends, we hope we can count on you. Please visit
our Web site and make a secure online donation
to help give more babies a healthy start in life. Even a $10 donation
will go a long way in our efforts to fight prematurity and birth
defects. This month's Personal Spotlight features the story of Colleen.
She went into labor on Christmas Eve in her 32nd week of pregnancy.
Because you are part of the March of Dimes family, we're sharing
this story with you. Also in this newsletter, you'll find:
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| Visit marchofdimes.com
to read more. Share your comments, suggestions and feedback on this newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@marchofdimes.com |
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| Dear March of Dimes, |
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My name is Colleen and I have a two-and-a-half-year-old
son. I had the easiest pregnancy that anyone could ever ask for until
my 32nd week when I suddenly and unexpectedly went into labor on Christmas
Eve. Fortunately for me and my unborn son, the doctors were able to
prevent delivery for two more weeks. I gave birth to a 33-week and
6-day-old baby who weighed 4.78 lbs. and was 15.5 inches long. He
spent two and a half weeks in the hospital because he lacked the suck,
swallow, breathe reflex. We were lucky our son had no trouble with
breathing and was easily able to maintain his body temperature. The
nurses kept telling us that we were lucky and that he was a strong
little boy, but when your newborn is hooked up to monitors and has
to spend most of his time in an isolette, it is difficult to believe.
My family was blessed. Our son suffered no ill effects as a result of being born prematurely. He walked, crawled, and talked early. He rarely gets sick (in fact he hasn't even had a fever since he was 15 months old!). Our good fortune is mainly due to the research that the March of Dimes does. We strongly support the March of Dimes because we know how close
we came to losing the most precious thing in our lives. Thank you
for all of your research in preventing premature births and helping
these tiny babies. Sincerely, |
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VITAMINS AND MINERALS
What you need to know: Vitamins and minerals help your body use the energy provided by foods. They also help repair and maintain cells and tissues. Critical vitamins and minerals include folic acid (a B vitamin),
iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium. Large amounts
of vitamin A can be dangerous; pregnant women should avoid taking
more than the Daily Value (5,000 International Units) of Vitamin
A.
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| Nation's Hospital Bill for Premature Births is
$13.6 Billion; One in Eight Babies Born Too Early
March of Dimes Calls for Concerted National Effort to Fight Prematurity; Launches Parent Support Program DALLAS, NOV. 18, 2003—Hospital charges for babies born
too soon totaled $13.6 billion in 2001, according to the latest
March of Dimes analysis released at ceremonies marking the first
annual Prematurity Awareness Day. |
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Regards and Happy Holidays, Editor Miracles Online March of Dimes |
| This online newsletter is sponsored by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. For more information about the March of Dimes, visit our Web site at marchofdimes.com. This newsletter is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. © March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2003 |
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| HOW YOU CAN HELP | ||
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Have you found this newsletter interesting? Please consider making a secure online donation today to help save babies! Click here. |
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2003 TAX SAVINGS Your gift to the March of Dimes may be tax deductible! Up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income for cash gifts and gifts of cash equivalents may be claimed as a tax deduction. To ease your tax planning, we have created a page with useful tips and links to IRS charitable contribution articles. To visit our tax break page, |
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 Join others in the fight to defeat premature birth, so every baby can get a healthy start.
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| TIP OF THE MONTH | ||
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Exercise pays off for pregnant women The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that most pregnant women participate in 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days of the week. Moderate exercise helps ease many common pregnancy discomforts, such as constipation, backache and fatigue, and may also help reduce a woman's risk of having a premature or low-birthweight baby. However, a pregnant woman should always check with her health care provider before starting or continuing an exercise program. |
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| HOLIDAY GIFT | ||
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March of Dimes Screensaver 
This free holiday download from the March of Dimes includes beautiful
pictures of babies and their loving parents. Enjoy! Download for PC For instructions and help, |
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