November is March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness Month
In Western New York, 1 in 7 babies are born premature

Web Exclusive, November 1, 2007

The March of Dimes has declared November as Prematurity Awareness Month and Tuesday, Nov. 13, as Prematurity Awareness Day to continue to lead the fight against the more than half a million premature births that occur in this country every year, as well as other serious threats to infant health. Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and babies who survive may be disabled for life. In Western New York, one in seven babies are born prematurely each year and that statistic is closer to one in six in the city of Buffalo.

This year, the March of Dimes is bringing together friends and families to honor all babies, those born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Whether born prematurely or full term, every baby has a story and every mother, every father and every family has a memory to share. As part of the November observance, everyone is invited to share their baby’s unique story with others by visiting www.marchofdimes.com/everybaby. On this Web site, an interactive map allows families and friends to connect through activities across the country, all to celebrate babies. Read others’ stories and join a community that honors the babies in your life.

“We want to connect with each and every baby and for families to come together in Western New York and across the nation,” said Stacey Wawrzyniec, March of Dimes WNY division director. “This November, pink and blue lights and activities will celebrate the stories of all babies and their families as well as to raise awareness about premature birth in our community.”

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month locally, the March of Dimes has organized the following activities throughout Western New York:

Many Western New York landmarks will be aglow in pink and blue to symbolize hope for the future of all babies, including Niagara Falls, the M&T Building in downtown Buffalo and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

For the third year in a row, the March of Dimes will partner with the Buffalo Sabres for “Pink and Blue Night” on Friday, Nov. 16, when the team takes on the Montreal Canadiens. For more than a decade, the Sabres organization has supported the March of Dimes from the Celebrity Golf Tournament to supporting the continuing efforts in the fight against prematurity. In addition, fans are encouraged to support prematurity awareness by dressing in pink and blue.

The March of Dimes will be distributing wallet-sized education cards containing information on preterm labor, signs to look for, and resources for additional information to obstetrics-gynecology offices throughout Western New York.

In addition, for the sixth straight year, more than 600 Motherhood Maternity locations nationwide will take donations to support the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign now through Nov. 15. Furthermore, Motherhood Maternity shoppers can purchase a “be healthy be happy” charm for a dollar donation supporting the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign by visiting any participating Motherhood Maternity store location. Western New Yorkers can also help the March of Dimes ensure that every baby has a healthy start by visiting marchofdimes.com/everybaby. The March of Dimes funds cutting-edge research and innovative programs that help more babies come into the world healthy. Together, we can raise awareness of premature birth and help give every baby a healthy start.

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. American Baby and Baby Talk magazines and Working Mother Media are national media sponsors. More than 50 professional and consumer organizations have become Prematurity Campaign alliance members, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association and the American Public Health Association. Nationally, Prematurity Campaign sponsors include CIGNA, FedEx, Motherhood Maternity and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute; the national Prematurity Awareness Month supporter is First Response.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.