March of Dimes Improves Infant Outcomes

By Jennifer Bader

Just 14 short months ago our little miracles arrived at 32 weeks gestation. After struggling through four years of infertility and a high risk pregnancy, we can count our blessings twice because we have twins, Addelynn and Alexander. Our family has been named by the March of Dimes as the 2009 Ambassador Family for Huntsville March for Babies walk, to take place at Bridgestreet Towne Center on April 18th, 2009.

I was 30 weeks pregnant and fighting pre-eclampsia when I was admitted to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. After several weeks of bed-rest, many wheel chair rides, and plenty of ultrasounds, doctors decided that I had fought long enough. On December 19, 2007, Addelynn was born weighing 3 pounds and Alexander 4 pounds 7 ounces. Because of our time in the Antepartum Unit at St. John’s Mercy, we felt that we were prepared for whatever God had planned for us. The NICU Parent Support Coordinator, Kathy Boswell did a wonderful job educating us on the day to day journey in the NICU. Since I was high risk, we had the opportunity to tour the NICU and learn more about premature life before the delivery date ever arrived. It is with great enthusiasm and desire that we dream of starting this type of support here locally at Huntsville Hospital.

Addelynn and Alexander’s hands and forearms were so small that Dale could slip his wedding band over them. Their skin was so translucent that you could see through to their veins. For the first several weeks, Addelynn and Alexander were unable to eat or regulate their own body temperature. Alexander spent 24 hours on a C-Pap machine and also spent several days on oxygen monitors. On the other hand, our tiniest miracle, Addelynn was a fighter! She spent less than 24 hours on oxygen.

We are very thankful for the March of Dimes research grants that have contributed to the development of the many lifesaving treatments used in the NICUs across the country. We are so excited about the opportunity to lead more than 8,000 walkers throughout Research Park for the 2009 March for Babies. Even though Addelynn and Alexander arrived eight weeks early, we hope that they will continue to show that even the tiniest babies can make a difference.

Did you know that currently, there is no known cause for 50 percent of the babies who are born too soon? Each year more than 480,000 babies are born prematurely in the United States. That’s why, in 2003, the March of Dimes launched a nationwide $75 million prematurity campaign to raise public awareness about the problem and help fund research and education to decrease the rate of preterm birth.

The March of Dimes March for Babies has raised more than $1 billion for healthy babies since it began in 1970. Seventy-five cents of every dollar raised in Alabama goes into community service, advocacy, research and education programs to help all babies have a healthy start in life.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community service, education, and advocacy to save babies by preventing premature birth and birth defects.

Our family knows firsthand the challenges associated with prematurity. It is important to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it. By raising money, ongoing research to answer these critical questions is funded. When you support our Family Team, you show you care and you give hope for defeating premature birth and other threats to babies. Please join us and millions of compassionate people across the country who support March for Babies each year. We need your help. Please visit our web page and sponsor our event!

With your support, there’s hope!

Jennifer serves on the March of Dimes Board of Directors, Mountain Lakes Division and is the Client Coordinator for Bookout Studios, and Dale is currently a Storm Force 31 Meteorologist with WAAY-TV.