World Prematurity Awareness Day

For the first time, Prematurity Awareness Day will be observed worldwide on November 17. Africa, Europe, and Australia will join the United States in the observance.

Prematurity is not just an issue in the United States. Each year around the world, 13.1 million babies are born premature, and one million of those babies do not survive.

The United States received a “C” on the March of Dimes Report Card. The U.S. preterm birth rate is 12.2 percent, down nearly 5 percent from the peak of 12.8 percent in 2006.

Alabama earned an “F” on the 2011 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. Since 2006, Alabama’s preterm birth rate has dropped from 18.2 percent to 16 percent.

Grades are based on comparing the state’s and the nation’s 2009 preliminary preterm birth rates with the new March of Dimes 2020 goal of 9.6 percent of all live births. The Report Card information for the U.S. and states is available online at marchofdimes.com/prematurity .

“Although our state’s preterm birth rate did not improve this year, the trend is moving in the right direction. Since 2006, when the nation’s preterm birth rate peaked, our rates have improved and we will continue to work together with our partners for stronger, healthier babies,” said Gayle Whatley, CRNP, RN, Program Services Chair.  “We are determined to find and implement solutions to improve the health of babies, such as improving access to health care coverage, helping women quit smoking and preventing unnecessary early c-sections so more babies can get a healthy start in life.”

In Alabama, the March of Dimes is supporting Centering Pregnancy® group prenatal care programs, public health efforts to end early elective deliveries and consumer education activities that will help women have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks completed gestation, is a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and others.

Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants. At least 39 weeks of pregnancy are critical to a baby’s health because many important organs, including the brain and lungs, are not completely developed until then.

The March of Dimes says its 2020 preterm birth  goal can be achieved by a combination of activities:  giving all women of childbearing age access to health care coverage,  fully implementing proven interventions to reduce the risk of an early birth, such as not smoking during pregnancy, getting preconception and early prenatal care, progesterone treatments for women who are medically eligible, avoiding multiples from fertility treatments, avoiding medically unnecessary c-sections and inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy and by funding new research on prevention of preterm birth.

Factors that contribute to preterm birth improved in Alabama. It earned a star for reducing the percentage of women of childbearing age who smoke.  In Alabama, the rate of women smoking is 11.2 percent and the rate of uninsured women is 21.2 percent.

On November 18, more than 20,000 supporters around Alabama will wear Blue Jeans for Babies t-shirts to raise awareness of preterm birth and vital funding for research.  The t-shirts are preordered each year, so if you don't have a shirt you can still wear your blue jeans. Then get in touch with Division Director Jennifer Bitner to start planning for next year. Call (251) 438-1360.

Also, mark you calendar for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies in April 2012. Specific dates have not been chosen, but there will be a walk in Mobile and a walk in Baldwin County.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. On November 17, 2011, the March of Dimes and its global partners will observe the first-ever World Prematurity Day to raise awareness that preterm birth is a serious problem worldwide.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.