- More than 70 percent of premature babies are born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. These are called late-preterm births.
- About 12 percent of premature babies are born between 32 and 33 weeks gestation, about 10 percent between 28 and 31 weeks, and about 6 percent at less than 28 weeks gestation.
- Most premature births are caused by spontaneous preterm labor, either by itself or following spontaneous premature rupture of the membranes (PROM)
- About 25 percent of premature births are caused by early induction of labor or c-section due to pregnancy complications or health problems in the mother or the fetus. In many of these cases, early delivery is probably the safest approach for mother and baby.
- Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): About 23,000 babies a year (most of whom were born before the 34th week of pregnancy) suffer from this breathing problem (11). Babies with RDS lack a protein called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing.
- Today over 1500 babies will be born prematurely.
We will be walking with Abby in the annual March of Dimes Walk for Preemies on Saturday, April 24th and would love for you to join us! We hope to do our part in spreading awareness about prematurity and raising funds to help all babies not only survive, but thrive.
Here are the details:
Date: Saturday April 24th, 2010
Time: Registration at 8am - Walk begins at 9:30am
Distance: 3 miles (but feel free to walk only what you are able)
Location: Carl Miller Park 74 Sewell RdNewnan, GA 30263 (near Newnan High School)
Following the walk, we are hosting a cookout lunch at Dave and Mary Ann Sandlin's home in Newnan. Feel free to join us for hotdogs and hamburgers around 12noon Saturday, April 24th. Even if you cannot join us in the walk, but would like to meet the Gummybear - we would love to see you! If you need directions, please email me at sandlin.jennifer@gmail.com
You can join Team Gummybear and donate to March of Dimes (even if you will not be able to join us for the walk) at http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3198597&ct=4&w=4026858&u=Sandlin
We have a goal of $200 but view this walk more as a chance to celebrate Abigail's journey and raise awareness about these babies that are all too often born too small and too early. Even if you are unable to donate, we would love to see you at the walk or the cook out!
2 comments:
I'm going to see if we can make it that day, that's such a great cause! I have a few questions though: 1) Would we need to be there at 8:00 or at 9:30 to join you on the walk? 2) How long would it realistically take for us to get there from my house? (trying to figure out how early i'd have to get up! I'm working 'til 10pm the night before)
Registration starts at 8am, but I think you can get there any time between 8 and 9am. It takes about 1.5 hr to get from your house to the park (maybe less depending on who drives).
If you can't make it to the walk, come to the cookout at noon!! I'll send you directions!
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