November is Prematurity Awareness Month

In October I am sure you noticed people in town, on TV, and pretty much everywhere were wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness but did you know that November is Prematurity Awareness Month.  The NFL probably won’t be sporting purple this month to help raise awareness. So I want to do my part to help March of Dimes raise awareness because this cause is now very near and dear to me. 

Being the Aunt of a premature baby you would think I’d have been better prepared. You always think things like this won’t happen to you and when my daughter tried to arrive at 27 weeks I was shocked.  I am so blessed and thankful that my precious little Jacquelyn was able to hang in seven more weeks and waited until week 34 to be born.  Now more than ever do I realize the importance of awareness that is why I am taking this time to blog and let everyone know November is Prematurity Awareness Month. 

Did you know:

• 1 in 8 babies, are born prematurely each year in the US (this is approximately 543,000)
• The rate of premature birth has risen 30% since 1981
• Almost 40% of premature births do not have a known cause 

As I lay in the hospital bed for 7 weeks and for the 6 weeks after that Jacquelyn spent in the hospital I ran a gambit of emotions.   Worry and concern that she might be born at 27 weeks.  Hope when I learned about the 90% survival rate the NICU had for babies born at that gestational age.  Excitement each additional week I stayed pregnant. Joy when my baby girl was born.  Fear when she was having trouble breathing.  Depression, thinking that I did something wrong to cause all this.  Apprehension because she was so small. Elation and relief when we finally were able to bring her home. 

So often when we hear the word “premature” we think of smoking or drug abuse or some other factor like these.  But 40% of premature births do not have a known cause.  Awareness is more important now than ever.  That’s why in November we fight – fight for preemies, because babies shouldn’t have to. 

As NICU Parents I am thankful to say that our story is a happy one.  On July 17^th our precious angel, Jacquelyn Helen, was born at 34 weeks weighing 4lbs 5.7 oz at 3:33pm. 

It was a long stay in the NICU but 35 days later Mark and I became full time parents and were able to bring the sweetest baby girl home.  Once we were home Mark and I tip toed around the house trying not to wake our sleeping baby and adjust to the new routines.  The hardest adjustment was getting used to the monitors she had to use at the house. 

Everyday Jacquelyn continues to grow and learn new things.  We recently relocated to Seattle and I am excited to announce that as of October 28^th Jacquelyn is completely free of her monitors.  At her doctor’s appointment this week she weighed a whopping 11 lbs. 10 oz. and is 22 inches long.   One of the best things about our appointment with the new doctor was when she said “If you did not tell me, I would have never known she was a preemie.”  Knowing that she is getting so big and catching up so fast is music to my ears. 

I write today not necessarily for my friends and family that read our blog regularly but to all the other new moms of preemies and expecting moms who might be experiencing preterm labor to let you know you are not alone.  There are half a million preemies born in the US each year and November is my chance to raise awareness.  Through our life experience the March of Dimes is a cause that Mark and I will hold near and dear to our hearts.  Thank you to all those who have contributed in the past, it was through your help and research that things were in place for our little one. We look forward to raising money for research and participating in events in the future.