It’s every expectant mom’s worst nightmare, but sadly each year in the United States more than 500,000 babies will enter the world prematurely. Because they aren’t yet ready to be born, babies delivered prior to 37 weeks gestation can and often do suffer from a litany of health problems, including mental retardation, cerebral palsy and respiratory distress syndrome.
The March of Dimes has been working to raise awareness of — and funding for — premature babies since 1938. November marks Prematurity Awareness Month, and the organization kicked it off at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills last weekend.
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In attendance was Halle Berry, sporting a purple band as part of the March of Dimes’ banding together campaign.
More than 15,000 virtual bands have been created thus far, celebrating, honoring and remembering preemies around the world.
Halle’s support — and the support of other celebrity moms like Julie Bowen, Nicole Richie and Kellie Martin — couldn’t come at a better time.
Prematurity has been escalating “steadily and alarmingly” over the past two decades, according to the organization, and everyone pays a price.
Whether or not you have delivered prematurely, in 2005 alone the United States paid at least $26.2 billion in economic costs associated with preterm birth.
The March of Dimes notes that although a premature delivery can happen to anyone and that in 40% of the cases the cause is unknown, there are some steps that an expectant mom can take to minimize her chances of a premature delivery.
They include establishing quality prenatal car as early in the pregnancy as possible, quitting smoking, eliminating alcohol, going over prescription medications with a doctor, eliminating the use of herbal remedies and supplements, reducing stress, and keeping a watchful eye on infections.
Other risk factors include a previous preterm delivery and a multiples pregnancy. Learning the signs of preterm labor is also crucial, for the earlier it is detected the better the odds that doctors can work can treat both mom and baby.
To learn other ways you can help, click here.
Halle is mom to 19-month-old Nahla Ariela, her first child with partner Gabriel Aubry.
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