Kristie McNealy, MD

Yesterday, in my first post for Prematurity Awareness Month, I encouraged you to sign the March of Dimes Petition for Preemies.  In the US, more babies die from premature birth than from any other cause, and the Petition for Preemies was started to urge Congress, the President, employers and healthcare providers to make a real dedication toward reducing the rate of prematurity in the US.

The petition reads:

1. We urge the federal government to increase support for prematurity-related research and data collection as recommended by the Institute of Medicine and the Surgeon General’s Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth, to:
   • identify the causes of premature birth;
   • test strategies for prevention;
   • improve the care, treatment and outcomes of preterm infants;
   • and better define and track the problem of premature birth.
2. We urge federal and state policymakers to expand access to health coverage for women of childbearing age and to support smoking cessation programs as part of maternity care.
3. We call on hospitals and health care professionals to voluntarily assess c-sections and inductions that occur prior to 39 weeks gestation to ensure consistency with professional guidelines.
4. We call on businesses to create workplaces that support maternal and infant health.
   View our 14 recommendations. (workplacecriteria.pdf, 90kb)

So, what can you do? Go to the petition website, and sign the Petition for Preemies. Then, grab a badge or a widget to post on your blog, Facebook page or other online profiles. Finally, come back here when you’re done, and leave a comment letting us know you’ve signed and encouraging others to do the same!

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