“Prematurity is a common, serious and costly problem for our nation’s families, affecting one out of eight babies.  It’s growing to crisis proportions.  The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is our five-year, $75 million effort to address the problem, and NICU Family Support is an important component of the Campaign,” Dr. Howse said.
The number of babies born prematurely has increased dramatically over the last three decades, up nearly 29 percent.  In 2002, 480,812 newborns, or 12.1 percent of all babies born in the U.S., were born too soon.  Nearly 7,000 were right here in upstate New York (National Center for Health Statistics).  During an average week in Albany County alone, 58 babies are born and 11 will be born preterm or low-birthweight.  Three of those babies will suffer lifelong health problems as a result.

“This rate is unacceptably high,” says Dr. Howse.  “Many of these babies come into the world with serious health problems as a result of their prematurity.  Many die and those who survive may suffer lifelong consequences, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and blindness.  More than half the time premature birth happens for unknown causes.”

The Children’s Hospital Albany Medical Center, Regional Perinatal Center serving a 25-county region, has a Level IV NICU designed to provide comprehensive family-centered care for sick and premature infants.

“The Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center provides an outstanding setting for the program,” said Kathy Jarvis, Volunteer Chair for the Northeastern New York Division of the March of Dimes.  “Implementing this project provides a wonderful opportunity to work with graduate NICU parents and staff to develop programs specific to the needs of the families treated here,” she added.

Nationally, March of Dimes NICU Family Support receives multi-year funding from Pediatrix Medical Group and MedImmune, Inc.  Additional support is provided by Dey, L. P.  On a local level, the Upstate New York Chapter of the March of Dimes benefits from the financial support of The Lifetime Healthcare Companies for many similar Campaign initiatives.  As the Chapter Prematurity Partner they have demonstrated their ongoing commitment to help save local babies born too soon and too small over the last two years.

Michael Horgan, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Head, Division of Neonatology of The Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, said the project is a good collaboration between the March of Dimes and the hospital.
“Being the parent of a premature infant is very stressful and intimidating, especially for first-time parents,” said Dr. Horgan.  “We welcome March of Dimes NICU Family Support because it will help strengthen the family-centered care we already provide.”

Incorporating NICU families into every level of the project, March of Dimes NICU Family Support will assist Albany Medical Center staff members in addressing the needs of families throughout the hospitalization, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death.  NICU Family Support also includes a professional development component to provide hospital NICU staff with support and educational opportunities.  The project will be led by a March of Dimes staff person who has professional NICU experience.  An advisory committee made up of graduate NICU parents and NICU professionals will be involved in selecting activities and providing direct services to current NICU families.  Each NICU family will receive a March of Dimes Parent Care Kit including informational books and materials to chart their baby’s milestones.

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 preterm birth.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org or call the local office at (518) 453-0474.