As many of you know, earlier in the year I was asked to be a March of Dimes Mom, serving as a blog ambassador to help raise awareness about prematurity and birth defects. I’ve always been a supporter of the March of Dimes and their cause, and I am honored to volunteer my time and a little of my words and blog space for them.
I’m thankful that both of my daughters were healthy, full-term babies when they were born, but I can sympathize with those who aren’t as lucky. My mom lost a daughter due to prematurity, a terrible moment in her life that I know she carries deep in her soul.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and March of Dimes will be releasing their Healthy Baby Report Card, a state-by-state rating of infant health care. I’m not sure where Ohio will stand, but I hope it’s higher than I’m expecting.
Also, March of Dimes is teaming up with Bloggers Unite to promote Prematurity Awareness Day on November 17. The goal is to have 500 bloggers posting on that day about a baby that they love to bring awareness to the ongoing need for prematurity research funding.
From the Bloggers Unite website:
Medical advances give even the tiniest babies a chance of survival, yet for many babies premature birth is still a life or death condition. It’s the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. And babies who survive face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.
The rate of premature birth has never been higher. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. We need to fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.
November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers like you to get involved.
• Learn about premature birth at marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies
• Put a badge on your blog during November, Prematurity Awareness Month®
• On November 17, blog for a baby you love and to help others
I’m planning to join in, and I’m hoping you will pencil in a reminder to do the same on November 17. You can also place a badge on your blog for the month of November to help raise awareness – right click and save any of the images below to your computer and then place the badge on your blog with a link to http://marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies
So glad you have this opportunity to spread awareness. My nephew (now 15) was born with a congenital birth defect (gastroschisis) and the MoD has always been a very important cause for our family. Just added a button as well!
I will be happy to help spread the word. I have a post in my drafts folder that has been there for a long time. Its scheduled to be published on Nov 17th now.
xoxo
As the mommy of a preemie I appreciate when others who haven’t been through what I have been through make it a point to spread the word about prematurity!
i will be doing some special things on my blog this month!
Thanks friend!
I have a second-cousin who was born at twenty-something weeks. She’s now in college and doing fabulously. I almost forget that she was on oxygen for two years. (In fact, she’d outrun the tank quite frequently!) She’s just a gorgeous, articulate, bright kid who is definitely VERY lucky! I wish others could be so lucky — thank you Christina for blogging about this. XOXO.
I am not a mother of a preemie, but it’s just wonderful to see the spread of word.
Thanks you so much for posting about this. Together we can really make a difference!
I just blogged about this — thank you for letting us know and giving me the opportunity to salute a good friend who’s the mom of a preemie.