Prematurity Awareness - "Tiny" and Kathryn's story

Today I am participating with some other blogging mothers in a Preemie Awareness month blog hop. World Premature Awareness Day is actually November 17th, so look for more from me about this topic then! And don’t forget to wear purple!

If you’ve been following me, you know that I delivered twin girls on 12/10/11 at 30 weeks and 5 days. We lost our Kathryn 2 days later, due to the immense complications she suffered from Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Our little fighter, “Tiny” weighing in at 1lb 10 oz resided in the local NICU for 84 days… 12 long weeks. We brought her home in early March, and she is doing great!

This is me on my 35th birthday, the night before the girls were born. We had no idea I would go into labor the next day! (Can you even imagine how enormous I would have gotten if that was only 30+4!)

“Tiny” in the NICU

Kathryn on day one of life

If you want to read more of the story of my girls, TTTS, and pregnancy you can go here or here.

Today I want to focus on the prematurity aspect. Premature birth is still a major problem in the United States and around the world, for a variety of reasons. Thank goodness our health care system has advanced to the point that 24 weekers (sometimes even younger) or those born a super preemie like “Tiny” still have a fighting chance.

But there is so much more to be done! Education, research, medical advances.

If you are not familiar with the March of Dimes, it is a great organization that provides support, research, and advocacy with a mission to reduce preterm births and try to save as many preemies as possible, as well as study and reduce birth defects.

I hope you will consider supporting the March of Dimes during world prematurity month. You can do so without even giving a dime if money is tight. There are several advocacy campaigns and petitions ongoing right now, and the MOD has made it so very easy and quick to help them with their mission! You can visit their advocacy page here.

As I mentioned, I am bringing this awareness message to you with other moms of preemies. Please also visit their pages to share their stories!

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katbiggie

Freelance writer at Kat Biggie Press

Alexa B, who blogs as "Kat Biggie" is a wife, mother, and writer. She has three children and one in heaven. She recently self published a book entitled "Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother" which is available on Amazon. She blogs about life after the loss of one of her twin daughters to TTTS, motherhood, all things parenting, advocacy, grief support and social good.