c/o Children's Hospital and Health Center
3020 Children's Way, MC 5073
San Diego, CA 92123-4282
Phone: (858) 966-5981
Fax: (858) 966-7563
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Lorraine Martinez There is a silent enemy taking the lives of more than 50 babies every hour in the United States. Imagine having a baby three months early and weighing only one pound. Your baby is so small; it fits in the palm of your hand. Every breath is a struggle. You are terrified because you don't know if your child will even survive and you don't know why this has happened.
Premature birth is a huge problem, yet most people don't realize it. It is the leading cause of death in the first month of life. Prematurity is defined as babies being born more than three weeks before their due date (before 37 weeks gestation).
In San Diego County, 10.3% of babies are born premature. Many of these babies suffer lifelong disabilities as a result of being born too soon. Mental retardation, vision and hearing problems, chronic lung disease, asthma and cerebral palsy are just a few of the possible consequences of premature birth.
The March of Dimes has launched a 5-year campaign to increase public awareness of prematurity and to decrease the rate of prematurity. The first national Prematurity Awareness Day was held on Tuesday, November 18, 2003.
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A major focus of the campaign is to teach women to recognize the signs and symptoms of preterm labor. While some women may not have any symptoms, warning signs for preterm labor may include:
Women are urged to contact their health care provider when they have any signs of preterm labor.
For more information about educational materials, contact Lorraine Martinez at the San Diego-Imperial Division of the March of Dimes at (858) 576-1211 ext. 217 or go to our website www.marchofdimes.com.
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