That's the idea that’s driving Prematurity Awareness Month—a program created by the March of Dimes and supported by St.Vincent Health. Throughout the month of November, we’re working to raise awareness of the benefits of full-term birth when ever possible in all of our facilities and in the communities we serve.
Premature birth is a problem in Indiana and across America. Each year, the March of Dimes ranks states based on their premature birth rates. Like most states, Indiana received an "F" in 2008; only one state, Vermont, received a "B," and no state received an "A" ranking.
There are lots of reasons babies are born prematurely. The most common risk factors for preterm labor are having delivered a baby prematurely before, being pregnant with twins, triplets or more or having an abnormality with the uterus, cervix or both. But a growing problem is delivery electively scheduled before 39 weeks of pregnancy. The commonly held belief that 36 weeks is enough time for development in the womb causes some parents to request to have their babies delivered as much as a month too early.
The fact is, prematurity is the number-one reason babies do not survive until their first birthday. One in four premature infants suffers lifelong impairments such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and asthma. And "late preterm" infants—those born between 34 and 36 weeks—are still premature, with significantly more medical problems than full-term babies.
The rate of preterm birth is rising: for example in the past 25 years, the rate of preterm birth in the United States has increased 35 percent. Babies born between 34 and 36 weeks account for the biggest reason for the increase. In an average week in Indiana:
- 1,704 babies are born.
- 226 babies are born preterm.
- 140 babies are born low birthweight.
- 13 babies die before reaching their first birthday.
In 2005, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth in the United States was at least $26.2 billion.
- In 2006, 1 in 8 babies (13.2 percent of live births) was born preterm in Indiana.
- Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of infants born preterm in Indiana increased more than 23 percent.
- The rate of preterm birth in Indiana is highest for black infants (18.6 percent), followed by Hispanics (13 percent), whites (12.6 percent), Native Americans (12.3 percent) and Asians (11.3 percent).
At St.Vincent, we’re raising awareness of the need to give newborns their full 40 weeks. Throughout November, we’re featuring posters and other materials highlighting Prematurity Awareness Month in all of our facilities, and running ads in local newspapers to reach the public with this important message. We’re also raising money to support the March of Dimes—look for the purple buckets and pitch in!
Babies deserve their 40 weeks. We’re committed to helping them get there—in The Spirit of Caring.
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About St.Vincent Hospitals and Health Services
Driven by the faith of four Daughters of Charity who arrived in Indianapolis in 1881 with $34.77 in their pockets, the St.Vincent Hospital mission is to treat the poor and sick by following our Core Values of Service of the Poor, Reverence, Integrity, Wisdom, Creativity and Dedication. Our healthcare ministry has grown to include seven Centers of Excellence: Women's, Children's, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, Cancer Care and Bariatrics. The ageless mission of St.Vincent remains unchanged: to minister to the minds, bodies and spirits of those in need.
