“Many parents don’t expect to spend their first days, weeks or months in the NICU,” said March of Dimes Program Director Michelle Wallace. “The extremely small size of many of these infants makes it difficult to find clothing that fits, and when it can be found, is often beyond the affordable range of many families.”     

Shelli Guay of Milton had twins that were born five weeks early. “When our daughters were born just 4½ years ago, there were few preemie outfits to be found, so we took a special interest – and pride – in being part of a program that changed that, said Guay. “Something as simple as baby clothes gives the families of preemies a sense of normalcy in a situation that is anything but. Knowing that the outfit was donated – or even handmade – by your community gives an added level of support that is both needed and appreciated”

The baby items provide support and comfort, but also help families bond with their babies and celebrate milestones such as dressing their baby for the first time or going home. “I love knowing that there will be proud parents finally bringing their baby home from the hospital in an outfit someone from their community took the time to either donate or hand knit,” said Jen Savas of South Burlington and mother of Jack who was born three weeks early.

The largest number of donations came from knitting groups and individuals from some of Vermont’s most rural communities who spent months making items to help raise awareness in their local area. “At the Champlain Senior Center in Burlington, I know it was therapeutic for a group of the senior women to not only get together to knit, but also to feel like they were giving back to the community,” Savas said. Many people involved with the project were seniors who recalled the days of raising money for the March of Dimes to conquer the polio epidemic with research and treatments that helped hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and worldwide. 

In 2003, the March of Dimes launched a national campaign to fund research and programs that address the growing incidence of prematurity.  One of every 8 babies born in the U.S. is born preterm, defined as less than 37 completed weeks gestation; a full-term pregnancy is 37 to 41 weeks.  In Vermont, eleven babies are born premature each week, totally approximately 600 babies a year.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in the first month of life in the United States. The preterm birth rate has increased more than 20 percent since 1990 and costs the nation more than $26 billion a year, according to the Institute of Medicine report issued in July 2006.
 Babies who survive a premature birth face the risk of serious life-long health problems including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma. Even infants born just a few weeks too soon have a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding difficulties, temperature instability (hypothermia), jaundice and delayed brain development.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  Its mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.