March of Dimes: We Need to Do More to Prevent Preterm Births

According to the March of Dimes, the US as a whole gets a "D" on its efforts to prevent babies from being born too early. In a press release issued yesterday, the organization reported that the preterm birth rate in the US remains unacceptably high with 12.7% of all babies being born prematurely, whereas the target is to have the preterm birth rate no higher than 7.6%.

The March of Dimes calls for more research into the causes of preterm birth and possible prevention methods, such as whether more emphasis needs to be placed on encouraging expectant moms to quit smoking. They also invited Americans to sign the Petition for Preemies, which will be sent to President-elect Obama to call for more support into research focused on prematurity.

Premature birth is the leading cause of infant death, and even babies that survive can have a high risk of long-term disabilities, so it is definitely a worthy cause to support the March of Dimes in its efforts to help babies stay in the womb longer. Please take a moment and sign the petition to show your support.