Providence, RI, November 10, 2011 —

In celebration of Prematurity Awareness Month, the Rhode Island Chapter of the March of Dimes kicked off the Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait™ educational campaign at their 8th Annual Prematurity Summit on the Thursday, November 10th.  The Summit featured Bryan T. Oshiro, MD, Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Loma Linda University and focused on eliminating elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation. 

The Rhode Island Chapter has partnered with United Healthcare on an educational campaign to target both consumers and providers about the importance of waiting at least 39 weeks to give birth for women with healthy pregnancies.  In addition to the Prematurity Summit, the Rhode Island Chapter partnership with United Healthcare includes a media campaign, provider education, outreach, placement of consumer educational materials at provider offices and inclusion of 39 weeks material in birth education classes.  The 2011 Prematurity Summit was also supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Department of Health and raised a total of $50,000 in revenue and in-kind support.