It’s November and officially Prematurity Awareness Month. November 17th is World Prematurity Awareness Day, and I’ll be officially launching my 2015 fundraising efforts on that day. You’ve been warned! 🙂
Prematurity is still a major problem in the United States. On average, 1 in 8 babies is born too soon. Our government spends 26 billion USD each year because of premature births. And the impact on families that go through the delivery and care for a preterm baby can be overwhelming.
My twins, Kathryn and Tiny, were born ten weeks early. We spent twelve weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with our Tiny survivor. It was not a journey I would ever want to repeat.
I’ll be telling you more about it on November 17th. You can read more of my posts on prematurity here.
I did want to share this beautiful piece of work by Anne Geddes that was just released.
This beautiful image was created by world-renowned photographer and March of DimesAmbassador Anne Geddes – Official. The portrait is of baby Alfred, born eight weeks early, who is now healthy and thriving. Isn’t it lovely?
This image is helping raise awareness about the critical problem of premature birth leading up to World Prematurity Day on November 17.
Share and help us raise awareness.
Janine Huldie says
November 2, 2014 at 6:18 pmThank you always for the reminder and I do very much love that image above of Baby Alfred. Will definitely do all I can to support this year, because couldn’t agree more that this is a worthwhile cause.
Anne says
November 2, 2014 at 11:53 pm5 of my 7 were preterm. 3 required a NICU stay. 1 required a NICU stay and brain surgery. But they survived.
Thank you for discussing this. I’m grateful for the NICUs that meant my babies got to come home with me (I’ve had a loss, and I know what it’s like to come home with empty arms), but I wish there were no need for them.
katbiggie says
November 3, 2014 at 8:28 amThank you Anne. I’m so glad your children are doing well. I am also very sorry for the loss of your baby girl. xoxo