March of Dimes Volunteers visit Legislators on the Hill

Jen Zanon, wife of Greg Zanon, Defenseman for the Nashville Predators, visits her legislator on behalf of the March of Dimes.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 4th
   
WHERE:  Legislative Plaza – 12:30PM
Have the opportunity to go on a visit with Jen Zanon (wife of Greg Zanon, Defenseman for the Nashville Predators, as she meets with her legislator to talk about March of Dimes advocacy issues. 
 
WHY:  1. The March of Dimes asks elected officials to maintain the statewide smoking ban to continue benefiting the health of mothers and babies in Tennessee.

• Direct and indirect exposure to smoke during pregnancy has been linked to preterm births (less than 37 weeks gestation), low birthweight infants (less than 5 1/2 lbs), and infant mortality (death within the 1st year of life). (National Vital Statistics, 2002).

• In Tennessee in 2007, 26.6% of women ages 18-44 reported smoking, compared to 21.2% overall in the U.S.

2. The March of Dimes also urges our legislators to support the improvement of outcomes for late preterm infants.

• Babies born in the 34-36 week window were 6 times more likely to die in the first week of life than that of full-term babies, and 3 times as likely over the first year of life.  (Journal of Pediatrics, 2007)

Each week in the state of Tennessee, 230 babies are born prematurely.  In 2009, the Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes invested more than $3,000,000 in Tennessee for program services, including national research grants, community grants, and local public and professional education. Through these grants, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies.  For more latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com/tennessee, nacersano.org., or givingmatters.com