In honor of Prematurity Awareness Day and Prematurity Awareness Month, the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter hosted a Community Baby Shower at Rush Medical Center and I was invited. After collecting baby clothing, toys and baby products for expectant families, the gathering of items was then distributed to organizations assisting low-income and/or high risk pregnant women in the Chicagoland area. Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, organizes the Storks Nest which does just this for high school students. As sweet as it was to organize those itty bitty baby items and even buy a few for the day, it is also a reminder that many families find themselves grappling with the sudden arrival of a premature baby and all the complication that can bring.
The day was spent listening and learning from experts on advances concerning prematurity and meeting mothers who had survived a lifetime of heartbreak including one mom who had twins at 25 weeks. Seven weeks after their early arrival she lost her newborn son, but his twin sister is healthy and thriving today. And there are some advances on the horizon to help understand prematurity and ways to prevent it with even talk about pro biotic foods etc that may be more important than we realized.
When I went into preterm labor at 29 weeks, John and I were told very clearly of the issues at hand. But then we were very quickly we informed about brain bleeds, developmental delays etc, and we were told every week was so very important to our unborn child. So, we found ourselves heading to Prentice. There was nothing worse than being stuck in heavy traffic on the Ryan (construction) in absolute silence. We were very lucky with some extra time. My water broke at 37 weeks which is now considered late preterm.
But there are doctors out there who will induce labor for women before 39 weeks. Granted, our strong willed daughter does not stop talking/singing and has a fierce opinion about her clothes already, but that is not always the case for even babies born at 37 weeks. So the March of Dimes is working hard to encourage states and doctors to hold off until 39 weeks gestation unless medically necessary as it is still regularly done elsewhere. Let me tell you, my Gynie is AMAZING and is apparently even Oprah's Dr. Her practice will NOT induce until 39 weeks unless there is an amnio first. So to learn of women electing to have babies a few weeks early to get it over with already is...insane to me as I know we were freaking out a bit with Ali. Given family and friends have weathered MUCH more difficult situations, we were fortunate. So for that, I am eternally grateful and I am eternally hopeful for those we love and their children.
