Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns in the United States.  More than half a million babies are born prematurely every year, including more than 8,200 in Washington.  Twenty-five percent of the babies who survive will suffer lifelong health problems.

 “That is why the March of Dimes has proclaimed November as “Prematurity Awareness Month,” explained Tom Benedetti, MD, Chair of the March of Dimes Washington Chapter Prematurity Campaign and director of the University of Washington’s Prematurity Prevention Clinic.

In order to call attention to this growing infant health crisis, state and local government leaders, including Gov. Christine Gregoire, have declared Nov. 14 Prematurity Awareness Day in their respective jurisdictions.

“The March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes, and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to Washington families,” Gregoire said.

Prematurity Awareness Month events include:

¨       On Nov. 3,  at the March of Dimes Prematurity Summit in Olympia, Gov. Christine Gregoire, will address wellness and health care access in Washington to leading obstetricians, neonatologists, public health officials, and maternal and child health professionals assembling to address the crisis of premature birth. The summit, titled “Wellness for Life: Before, Between, and Beyond Pregnancy,” centers on preconception health and its role in prematurity prevention. Call the Washington State Chapter office at 206-624-1373 for information.

¨       On Prematurity Awareness Day, November 14th, the March of Dimes Washington Chapter is hosting a “Day of Gratitude” at Neonatal Intensive Care Units across the state for families touched by prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality to give a token of appreciation to doctors and nurses. Call 206-624-1373 for details

¨       Through the month of November, the Westin Hotel in Seattle, the Frank Russell Building and Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma and the Spokane Arena will glow in pink and blue lights to provide hope for the babies currently being treated in a NICU and hope for the healthy future of all babies. On Nov. 14 and 15, in observance of Prematurity Awareness Day, Qwest Field, the home of the NFL Seattle Seahawks, will also be lit in pink and blue.

“In addition, throughout November and December, we’re out to repeat history,” Benedetti said.   “Decades ago, millions of dimes from concerned Americans helped us defeat polio. Today, we need all the change people can spare to fight another big challenge—premature birth,” he explained in announcing the March of Dimes Coin Collection Campaign.

Throughout November and December, more than 300 Coinstar coin collection machines located in supermarkets statewide, will accept spare change on behalf of the March of Dimes. QFC stores throughout Western Washington will help kickoff the coin collection campaign by including campaign information in customer grocery bags on the weekend of Nov. 3.

Also in November, Motherhood Maternity, a national Prematurity Campaign Sponsor, will offer pregnant women free information about how to have a healthy baby. All Motherhood Maternity shoppers are invited to support the Prematurity Campaign by making a donation and purchasing special charms in stores.

Shoppers can also stop by their local Famous Footwear store and make a donation through the company’s “Give Hope. Watch Miracles Happen” Campaign November 5-18.

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign has been joined by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. American Baby magazine and Working Mother Media are national media sponsors. More than 40 professional and consumer organizations have become Campaign alliance members, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association and the American Public Health Association.

Nationally, Prematurity Campaign sponsors include CIGNA, FedEx, Motherhood Maternity and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute; the national Prematurity Awareness Month supporter is First Response.  Washington State sponsors include MedImmune, Matria Healthcare and Group Health.

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