National Birth Defects Awareness Month
Thursday, January 03, 2008
JC Jones MA RN
Prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life and the rate of premature births has risen 20% since 1990. The March of Dimes wants us to know this is an infant health crisis.
The US Surgeon General and the March of Dimes are hosting a 2008 Conference to develop a national agenda to prevent preterm labor and delivery. Preterm labor is labor that begins before 37 weeks of gestation.
Preventing birth defects is one of six public health priorities of the US Surgeon General. Babies who leave the safety of their mother's womb too soon are at increased risk for:
- Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
- feeding difficulties
- delayed brain development
- jaundice
- hypothermia
Babies born even a few weeks early are six times more likely to die during their first week of life than pre-term babies. Consider making a donation to March of Dimes Banding Together Campaign and purchase a virtual band on behalf of a premature infant.
Premature birth is now the #1 cause of infant death.
Thank you Nomadicentrepreuner for use of photo of little Ella.
Labels: birth defects, infant death, prematurity, preterm labor
