WalkAmerica was a rousing success across our nation! Thank you all for your wonderful support. In this issue we'll discuss two projects made possible by your generosity: NICU Family Support and our Prematurity Research Initiative. Both are compelling examples of why your ongoing support is vital to advancing our mission.

Research is a vital part of our efforts. You read about our first Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) in the last issue of Miracles. In this issue, you'll read about our second grant to find out whether genes control the mechanisms that time human birth.

If you are not familiar with the term, NICU stands for neonatal intensive care unit. A regionalized system of NICUs was established by the March of Dimes in the early 1970's to enable sick babies in all parts of our country to get the specialized care they needed. The NICU Family Support project provides information, hope and comfort to the families of babies in these units. Read below about The March of Dimes launch of NICU Family Support.

This month's Personal Spotlight features the story of Carter and Orion. Because you are part of the March of Dimes family, we're sharing this story with you.

Backache is one of the most common problems for pregnant women. Nearly half of all women have back pain at some point during pregnancy.

There are three types of back pain related to pregnancy:

•	Low-back pain when you stand or sit
•	Pain that is worst in the back of your pelvis and deep in your buttocks
•	Pain in your lower back when you are in bed at night During pregnancy, it's normal for women to have some back pain caused by:
	- The strain on the back from carrying extra weight
	- Changes in posture to offset extra weight. This shifts your center of gravity forward and puts more strain on the lower back.
	- Strain on the weakened and stretched muscles in the abdomen that support the spine.

Although some amount of backache is normal, severe back pain is not. It can be a warning sign of infection or complications, especially when a woman also has fever or other symptoms.

Find out more about what you need to know from our
Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education Center.^®

Do Genes Tell The Story?
There is some evidence that if a women was born prematurely--before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy --there is a good chance she will deliver her baby early. Dr. Louis J. Muglia at Washington University in St. Louis wants to find out if genes help control the mechanisms that time human birth, whether preterm or full term. Those mechanisms are now poorly understood. Dr. Muglia says, "While differences between ethnic groups provide some evidence for genetic predisposition to preterm labor, studies of families provide stronger evidence for inherited predisposition to preterm labor and delivery. And besides an increased risk for mothers born preterm, there's an increased risk for mothers whose sister delivered preterm." The researcher is looking at family history of preterm birth of all first and second degree relatives of mothers who have delivered preterm and doing a genetic analysis. Identification of genes responsible for preterm birth in families will make it easier to identify genes in a larger population, thereby perhaps enabling assessment of prematurity risk in a family and design of treatments.

News from the March of Dimes
March of Dimes Announces Nationwide Launch of NICU Family Support^SM

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., APRIL 14, 2005 - Families of premature babies can now get information and one-on-one support from trained professionals, thanks to a new service funded by the March of Dimes. The same information is also available to parents across the country through marchofdimes.com/prematurity/5128.asp.

"In our country today, nearly 500,000 babies are born prematurely and many will require specialized care,'' says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "NICU Family Support Project brings hope, information and comfort to thousands of families who are coping with the frightening and stressful experience of having a critically ill newborn."

Each site has a part-time March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist who works with families and staff to develop customized services. These can include support for siblings and extended families; information for Spanish-speaking families; photography and scrapbooking; easing the transition from NICU to home; and bereavement support.

"A primary component of the project is family involvement,'' said Scott D. Berns, M.D., MPH, Vice President, Chapter Programs for the March of Dimes. "Parents who have graduated from the NICU themselves know best what families need to cope with the NICU experience and are key in designing services to meet the needs of the specific NICUs and the populations they support.''

Topics addressed in printed materials and online include: parenting in the NICU; coping with the NICU experience; the transition home; dealing with family and friends; and grief and loss, among others. In addition, parents can share their stories and meet other NICU families at marchofdimes.com/share. The program also includes a professional development component for hospital staff.

Currently in 23 hospitals, the project in 2005 and will reach all 50 states by 2007. Texas, which has about 49,300 preterm births each year, will have two sites. Families interested in finding a NICU Family Support project where they live should contact their local March of Dimes chapter.

NICU Family Support is part of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, a multi-million dollar effort to raise awareness and reduce the growing problem of premature birth. Funding for NICU Family Support is provided by MedImmune, Inc., Pediatrix Medical Group, Dey, L.P., and by contributions to the March of Dimes.