News Moms Need

Today is Prematurity Awareness Day, and I really wish I had some happy news to report. We just released the second annual Premature Birth Report Card and America scored a depressing “D.” What that means is that every year, we’re failing more than half a million babies.

Each state received its own report card, by the way, and you can find your state’s grade here. No state earned an “A,” and Vermont was the only state that received a “B.” Even though seven states improved their grade, I’m sure you’ll agree we have a long way to go.

You can help in a big way today by blogging about premature birth. And updating your Facebook and Twitter status.  

You never know how many red cars are on the road until you’re driving one yourself.  My darling husband’s colleague told him that the day after our son was born six years ago and the truth of those words have stuck with us ever since.

Birth is supposed to be kisses and hugs.  Family celebrating together.  Harmony.  But for my family it was complete chaos.  Anguish.  Doom.  Tubes and wires, bells and needles – a baby born much too soon struggling to survive in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  When I was only 23-weeks pregnant, I went into pre-term labor and was forced to deliver our Joshua.  He weighed one pound and eleven ounces and was very sick.  Doctors weren’t sure if he would make it.

My life had always been according to plan.  One minute I was having a healthy pregnancy, the next minute I was in pre-term labor.  All of a sudden I was in uncharted territory, completely out of my element, and never more terrified in my life.  I couldn’t grasp how the perfectionist in me failed to produce a perfect baby and a perfect family.  In an instant my life was turned upside down.  I woke up on a roller coaster and it was anything but a thrill ride.  My emotions went from terror – seeing my son for the first time in an isolette, a tiny protoplasmic being through a maze of tubes and tape; to remorse – how could I let this happen?  To sorrow – what does the future hold for my son?  As soon as I finally let go of the shock and denial and accepted Joshua’s situation my maternal instinct kicked in and my deep-rooted family values emerged.  I began a mission – together with my husband – we felt like we had to battle the impossible but we went into full on battle mode and fought harder than we ever fought before.  We wanted our son to have every chance in life.

These days our society is so busy.  Life is oftentimes so trivial.  Many people are just trying to make it through the day.  Our story could happen to any family.  In fact it does.  And that’s when we realized how many other red cars are on the road.

My experience the past six years has been a fascinating study of women and their steadfast role in their family.  Preemie moms are some of the strongest women I know in our society today.  To have to endure something as frightening as your baby faltering on the brink of survival and to watch all the pain he has to suffer to stay alive is a true test.  But my Joshua taught me so much and wow did he enrich not just my life but so many others, too.  And he continues to do so every single day.  I learned how to cope.  I learned how strength oftentimes comes from the unexpected and how in times of great fear you must do the thing you cannot do.  I learned how everything is a state of mind and I can get there by believing that nothing is impossible. 

Follow us as we travel around the country fighting for preemies at Josh Fights for Preemies blog.

By: Melanie Hoffman, 2010 Ambassador Mom

It was this weekend’s hot ticket event and what the internet has been buzzing about.  Hollywood stars turned the red carpet to March of Dimes purple.

Moms, Halle Berry, Nicole Richie, Julie Bowen and other celebrities showed up in LA at the March of Dimes Celebration of Babies, November 7, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Show your support and join the fight for preemies. Create a virtual purple wristband for a baby you love and help give other babies a fighting chance.

Photos by Alex J. Berliner©Berliner Studio/BEImages 

It’s Prematurity Awareness Month, when everyone’s focused on premature birth and the families touched by it.

In our country alone, more than half a million babies are born too soon each year, some very sick. Maybe you had a premature baby yourself. Or you may know someone who did.

This November, do something special for a baby you love. Click over to marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies and create a virtual band in honor or memory of a baby in your life. Your gift funds research and programs that give premature babies a fighting chance.

If you have a blog, help us spread the word. Unite with thousands of bloggers around the world and post about premature birth  on November 17.

And if you are Twitter, use #fight4preemies.  Let’s try to get a trending topic going on November 17th.

Spending a little too much time playing Bejeweled? Don’t feel too guilty. But do check out Hope Arcade. It’s a new online gaming site where you can find all of your favorite downloadable games. Here’s where it gets really good: 70 percent of all net profits from the Hope Arcade will be donated to the March of Dimes to help give babies a healthy start!

You can download games, play online, grab a coupon, everything you do on Hope Arcade benefits babies. Stop by. And if you like it, tell someone else. Happy gaming!

Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.

November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth.  I invite bloggers like you to get involved and join us in the Bloggers Unite to Fight for Preemies event. Help us fight ― because babies shouldn’t have to.

One in eight babies is born too soon in America. But what about the rest of the world? The March of Dimes just published the results of the first-ever study into the global problem of premature birth. I’m sorry to tell you, the news is disturbing:

• Every year, 13 million babies worldwide are born prematurely, and more than one million die because they are born too soon.

• Rates of premature birth are increasing everywhere ― in our country alone, the rate has gone up by 36 percent in the last 25 years.

There are more shocking stats, you can read them here . But there’s also good news to come out of this. We’re meeting with world health leaders to create a plan for global action that will reduce the prematurity rate and give all babies a fighting chance.

Next month is Prematurity Awareness Month. Check back to find out what we’re doing. If you have a blog, unite with thousands of bloggers around the world and post about premature birth on Bloggers Unite to Fight for Preemies on November 17.

And visit our new site, marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies for more ways to get involved!

As long as you’re sitting behind your computer… click through to do some good this summer!

These three great companies are giving away a total of $60K to the charity of your choice. Just think of the good that money could do for babies and families.

1.       Enter Kenneth Cole’s Big Change Giveaway here and win $25K to fight premature birth and other problems that threaten our babies.

2.      Christie Cookies is also giving out $25K!

3.       Check out Capital One’s Connect One campaign to win $25 instantly ― plus a shot at the $10K grand prize. Make our babies the winner!

Thanks to all these companies for putting some love in the summer of ’09. And thanks to you for taking a couple of minutes to support your favorite charity. Love you right back!

Do you consider yourself a hero? Well, we do. And so do our Friends at Farmers Insurance. July 22 is Be a Hero for Babies day and Farmers is matching every gift to the March of Dimes. Dollar for dollar from now until then. That means double the good for babies who are born prematurely or very sick.

 
It doesn’t take much to be a hero. In fact, the title can be yours for as little as $1.99. What could you give up today to save a baby? Your morning coffee? Mmm, if not coffee, afternoon snack? Video rental? If you are feeling the squeeze and don’t normally give, think about it today. Or tomorrow.

But don’t wait too long – the Farmers’ match is only good through the 22nd. As an added bonus, after you have made a donation you can grab the Super Hero badge to show off your new status.

I went to BlogHer last year and met some amazing people. Many of whom are now friends and supporters of the March of Dimes. Did you go? I may have sat next to you at speeding-dating BlogHer style or at one of the sessions or bellied-up to the bar with you at one of the crazy parties. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet and get to know fellow bloggers. I loved it!

I am so looking forward to going to BlogHer ‘09 in Chicago next week and hope to see you there. The BlogHer conferences bring bloggers from every corner of the blogosphere together for hands-on learning, rich discussions, opportunities to meet with the brands that support them and plentiful networking opportunities. There will be over 1000 bloggers there. Can you believe it? Squeeee. I’m so excited. Leave me a comment if you are going or send me a tweet @modbev and I’ll try to find you.