WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 – The March of Dimes is pleased to announce that Motherhood® Maternity will again partner with the non-profit to spotlight the ever-growing health problem of prematurity.
“Motherhood® Maternity is committed to providing vital information to help pregnant women decrease the risk of premature birth and become aware of the warning signs of preterm labor,'' March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse said. “They are a committed friend in helping us raise awareness for prematurity.''
As part of the March of Dimes' five-year, $75 million campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth, the health non-profit established November as Prematurity Awareness Month in 2003. Prematurity Awareness Day will be held on November 16 this year. Every year, 470,000 families welcome their new babies into the world prematurely. For the second consecutive year, Motherhood® Maternity, the national retail supporter of Prematurity Awareness Month, will provide information about the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign in its stores.
“Motherhood® Maternity is pleased to support the March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness Campaign. Promoting healthy pregnancies is a key factor in the effort to decrease premature births. We understand the importance of educating expectant families so we encourage all moms-to-be to come in our stores and get valuable information from the March of Dimes about having a healthy baby,'' said President Rebecca Matthias.
Information on the March of Dimes Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education Center, with instructions on how to access material on hundreds of pregnancy topics, will be included in gift bags for customers making their first purchase at Mortherhood® stores between October 11 and November 16. And, Motherhood stores throughout the country will be inviting all of their customers to support the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign by making a donation either in the story or online at http://www.motherhood.com/.
Families can also participate online at clicktosavebabies.org. The site gives families an opportunity to connect with each other and sign a petition calling for increased federal funding for research related to prematurity.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects 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 five-year 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.
Five Things You Can Do to Reduce the Risk of Premature Birth
While it is true that many women without any risk factors will have a preterm baby, the March of Dimes says there are some steps women can take to help reduce their chances of a premature birth:
- If you smoke, stop smoking. It's best to stop before you get pregnant. If you can't stop, try to cut down. Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Don't drink alcohol.
- If you use any drugs or herbal remedies or supplements that are not prescribed by your health care provider, stop using them. It's best to stop before you get pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about prescription medications you are taking.
- Try to reduce stress. Ask friends and family for help. Rest and relax whenever you can.
- If you feel burning or pain when you urinate, you may have an infection. Call your health care provider right away.
