Kristie McNealy, MD

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and all month long, fellow bloggers and I will be joining together to raise awareness to the growing problem of prematurity in the US and abroad.  Each year in the US, 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy), an event that can lead to lifelong medical  and developmental complications.

Parent-to-be or not, preterm birth impacts all of us.  Babies who are born even a little bit early have much higher hospitalization rates and medical costs in their first year of life, and can suffer from complications of low birth weight and immature lung development.  Preterm birth also has an impact on employers due to lost productivity and increased insurance premiums.

Beyond the monetary costs of preterm birth are the far more important costs an early arrival can have on a child and their family.  While babies can sometimes survive after as little as 22 weeks gestation, we are just starting to discover the impacts preterm birth at any gestational age can have on longterm development and function of the brain and other organ systems.

So, what can you do?

• First, grab a badge and join us in blogging to raise awareness about the impact of prematurity and the signs and symptoms of preterm labor.  Help us spread the word to moms, as well as research scientists, neonatologists and our legislators about the longterm impacts prematurity has had on your child, or a child you know.  You can grab the badge code below, or find it in my sidebar.

  
  
  

  <a href="http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/prematurity-awareness" title="Blogging for Prematurity Awareness"><img src="http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/Images/Blogging-Prematurity-Awareness.jpg" alt="Blogging for Prematurity Awareness"></a><br />
  
• Next, go sign the Petition for Preemies, and help the March of Dimes urge the new President and Congress to do something to reduce the rate of preterm birth in the US, and improve our understanding of the impacts of preterm birth.
• Help a pregnant mom you know learn about having a healthy pregnancy, and the importance to their baby of getting their full 9 months.
• If you’re considering becoming pregnant, educate yourself about the things you can do to increase your chances of having a healthy and happy 9 months of pregnancy.
• Subscribe to be notified of updates on this site, so you don’t miss any of the educational or touching prematurity related articles will be featuring this month.
• Check out my Prematurity Awareness Month Blogroll to find other bloggers who are working to raise awareness this month!  If you’re blogging about prematurity this month, contact me, and I’ll add you to the blogroll as well.

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