March of Dimes supporters in Ardmore and across the country recognized Prematurity Awareness Day Tuesday.
Members of the March of Dimes Ardmore Board of Directors met for a ribbon cutting and to recommit to the goal of “fighting for preemies.” Hundreds of walkers in Ardmore raised $171,000 this year during the annual March for Babies.
In 2007, more than half a million babies were born prematurely in the United States. A premature birth is one that occurs before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths in the United States.
Babies born prematurely have less-developed organs than full-term babies and are more likely to face serious multiple health problems after birth. Premature babies often require care in a newborn intensive care unit which has specialized medical staff and equipment.
Babies born even a few weeks early are at greater risk than full-term infants of serious problems, such as respiratory distress, delayed brain development, sudden infant death syndrome, jaundice, re-hospitalization and feeding problems.
Premature babies who survive may suffer lifelong consequences, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease and vision and hearing loss.
While many of the underlying causes of pre-term birth are not well known, three risk factors for pre-term labor are most consistently identified by experts as multifetal pregnancy (twins, triplets), a woman’s history of pre-term delivery and some uterine and/or cervical abnormalities.
The March of Dimes graded states by comparing each state’s rate of premature birth to the nation’s objective of 7.6 percent or less by 2010. Oklahoma received a grade of F for its 2009 premature birth rate of 13.5 percent.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
