The NCPPC’s “The Pregnancy Workshop: Early Pregnancy Education” seeks to educate local mothers-to-be about the early warning signs and symptoms of pre-term labor and risk factors associated with prematurity and low birthweight, including smoking and alcohol and drug use.  Prematurity is defined as birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation.  It is hoped the classes will result in fewer pre-term births in the region, currently 8.6 percent of all births.  The national rate is 12.1 percent, representing a record high of 480,812 pre-term births in 2002.

The first workshop was held May 5 at Samaritan Medical Center.  About 700 women are expected to participate in the workshops that will run through the end of 2004.

Speaking at the news conference, Liz Walker, Public Affairs Co-chair for the Upstate New York Chapter of the March of Dimes, said,  “Prematurity is one of the most common, serious and costly problems facing our nation and effects nearly 7,000 babies each year in Upstate New York.  Right here in the Tri-County region, 229 babies were born prematurely last year and 57 of them will suffer lifelong health problems like mental retardation, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, blindness and asthma,” she said.

“We agree with the NCPPC’s assessment that access to early pregnancy education can be difficult for North Country women who are scattered across a vast geographic area,” said Dana Loucks, March of Dimes Central New York Division Board Chairperson.  “We are grateful that our successful fundraising efforts, such as our Bikers for Babies event, and strategic partnerships like Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, make it possible for us to support new programs in our local communities that can help more babies be born healthy,” he said.

Loucks added that the NCPPC grant is one of the ways the March of Dimes helps fight premature birth and is also one of several initiatives regarding prematurity education done recently in collaboration with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“Getting babies off to a good start in life is vitally important,” said James R. Smith, regional president, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Central New York Region.  “We hope this grant will result in a more positive future for all the babies born here.”

Penny Ingham, NCPPC executive director, explained the goal of the workshops.  “The Pregnancy Workshop provides a standardization of prenatal education throughout the Tri-County area.  Participants of the classes will be empowered to make decisions about their health and to prepare for their new babies, as well as be able to identify concerns for their pregnancies, including premature warning signs.”

Sheela Marie of Samaritan Medical Center, a certified childbirth educator and labor and delivery nurse for 18 years, agreed.  "Early pregnancy classes provide an opportunity to educate the newly pregnant family about healthy lifestyle choices.  Pre-natal education helps to maximize the potential for an optimal outcome.”

Sharing her experience as the mother of twin boys born prematurely was March of Dimes’ “Ambassador Mom” Kim Praynor of Black River.  “I know my sons might not have survived or might have long term disabilities without all of the work and research that the March of Dimes does.”

For more information on the Pregnancy Workshop or to sign up for classes call The North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council, Inc. at 1-800-279-8679 or 315-788-8533.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects 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 five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com.

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