Recognizing November as Prematurity Awareness Month® and NOVEMBER 13TH as Prematurity Awareness Day, the March of Dimes continues to lead the fight against the more than half a million premature births that occur in this country every year as well as other serious threats to infant health.  Prematurity is the number one killer of newborns.  In fact, each year, more than 16,000 babies in North Carolina suffer the consequences of being born too soon.

Whether born prematurely or full term, every baby has a story—every mother, every father, every family has a memory to share. 
“After 103 days of our son’s struggling to survive in the NICU, I’m excited and honored to share his story and celebrate his strength, as well as my own,”  said Betty Taylor, 2007 National March of Dimes  Ambassador mom from Durham.

As part of the November observance, everyone is invited to share their baby’s unique story with others by visiting marchofdimes.com/everybaby.  On this Web site, an interactive map allows families and friends to connect through activities across the country, all to celebrate babies.  Read others’ stories and join a community that honors the babies in your life.

“We want to connect with each and every baby, and for families to come together in North Carolina and across the nation,” said Tara Owens Shuler, Chair of the March of Dimes North Carolina Chapter Prematurity Campaign.

• On November 13-14, the March of Dimes will help sponsor Gravidas at Risk, a conference in Hickory where leading obstetricians, neonatologists, public health officials, and maternal and child health professionals are assembling to address the crisis of premature birth.  Contact Mona Brown Ketner at mketner@wfubmc.edu for information.
• In November you can see hospitals and landmarks shining in pink and blue light to symbolize hope for the future of all babies. 
  

In addition, for the sixth straight year, more than 600 Motherhood® Maternity locations nationwide will take donations to support the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign from October 1st through November 15th. Furthermore, Motherhood Maternity shoppers can purchase a ‘be healthy be happy™’ charm for a dollar donation supporting the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign by visiting any participating Motherhood Maternity store location.  North Carolina residents can also help the March of Dimes ensure that every baby has a healthy start by visiting marchofdimes.com/everybaby.

The March of Dimes funds cutting- edge research and innovative programs that help more babies come into the world healthy.  Together we can raise awareness of premature birth and help give every baby a healthy start.

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.  American Baby  and Baby Talk magazines and Working Mother Media are national media sponsors.  More than 50 professional and consumer organizations have become Prematurity Campaign alliance members, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association and the American Public Health Association.

Nationally, Prematurity Campaign sponsors include CIGNA, FedEx, Motherhood Maternity and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute; the national Prematurity Awareness Month supporter is First Response. In North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline is a Prematurity Campaign sponsor.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.