March of Dimes

What is the Prematurity Campaign?

Prematurity has been escalating steadily and alarmingly over the past two decades. Between 1981 and 2001, the rate of premature births rose from 9.4 percent to 11.9, an increase of more than 27 percent. In 2001 more than 476,000 babies were born prematurely each year. That's roughly comparable to the population of New Orleans or Cleveland.

March of Dimes Preterm delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. It's happening more and more often. And, in nearly half the cases, no one knows why.

The March of Dimes is stepping up to the plate to take on this devastating problem, to find out what causes it, and how it can be stopped.

About the Prematurity Campaign

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is a five-year, $75 million research, awareness, and education campaign to help families have healthier babies. The Campaign includes:

  • Funding research to find the causes of premature birth.
  • Educating families about the warning signs of premature labor and what can be done to prevent it.
  • Expanding access to health care coverage so that more women can get prenatal care.
  • Helping health care providers learn ways to help reduce the risk of early delivery.

Why Prematurity?

Prematurity is a silent crisis in America. In 2001, more than 476,000 babies were born prematurely. And prematurity is on the rise. It now affects one out of every eight babies born in the United States.

Prematurity takes a severe toll on America's families and strains our health care system. Each year, 100,000 children develop health problems because of their early births. And prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month.

Why the March of Dimes?

The March of Dimes has a 65-year history of saving America's children. It was founded in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to defeat polio, a dreaded disease that claimed the lives and limbs of America's children in record numbers. Within 17 years, the Salk vaccine was developed and polio was defeated.

The March of Dimes then turned its attention to an even greater challenge—fighting birth defects and other infant health problems. Over the past four decades, our lifesaving research, innovative programs, and dedicated volunteers have saved millions of babies from death and disability. With a track record of success in bringing people together to solve complex health challenges, the March of Dimes is uniquely qualified to take on the problem of prematurity.

—Taken from the March of Dimes

March of Dimes

How can you help?