Worldwide, 13 million babies are born preterm each year and one million of those die each year as a result of their early birth. Today (November 17th, 2011) is the first-ever World Prematurity Day, part of the March of Dime’s Prematurity Awareness Month, to honor these premature infants and raise awareness about the importance of striving to give every baby a healthy start in life.

So today, I not only praise the March of Dimes for helping my preemie twins, Macy and Mallory, survive almost eighteen years ago, but I also praise my preemie twins themselves for the fine young ladies they have turned out to be. Read our story.

Macy recently attended the FCCLA Cluster Meeting in Minneapolis and was so excited to tell me that one of the presentations at the convention was the March of Dimes talking about World Prematurity Day. I am hoping she decides to do a Star Project on being a preemie and share her miraculous story.

March for Babies 2010 is in full swing! Visit MarchForBabies.org to sign up or for more information on how you can help give all babies a healthy start.

I want to participate this year!  I found two events only an hour away from me, and I can’t wait to sign up!

ProFlowers will donate $10 to the March of Dimes for each Valentine’s Day order you place through this link!

Order now and ProFlowers will include a FREE glass vase to thank you for your donation. Thank you for your support!

And the best part is that MagFundraising donates up to 40% of your purchase price back to charity!  So I established an account where proceeds from sales will be donated to the March of Dimes.

Select from a variety of 650 magazines at up to 85% off newsstands prices and improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality at the same time. Shop Now!

Your donation of $25 will become $50 when it is matched. Your gift of $50 becomes $100. Anything you can give today will be worth twice as much!

Imagine: $300,000 to help moms and babies, this year and next. We can’t let this opportunity pass us by!

Your gift today, doubled, helps the March of Dimes fund research into premature birth and provide services to families of infants born too soon or sick.  Donate Today!

Prematurity Awareness Day – Shouldn’t Have to Be Great quick story and poem about the loss of Baby JW.

Subliminal Intervention: Prematurity Awareness Month I, too, was born in 1972, so this was a interesting read about a man born in 1972 weighing only 2 lb. 2 oz.

Redefining “OK” « The Continuing Adventures of SuperPreemie The story of SuperPreemie Shoshanna who is now a kindergartner.

Because Miracles Happen: We fight because babies shouldn’t have to! Tyler is indeed a 25.3 week 1 lb. 11 oz miracle.

The Spohrs Are Multiplying… » Fight For Preemies Heather & Mike lost Maddie too soon, and I keep baby Binky in my prayers.

Fight for Preemies « I Can Grow People Wear purple today* to show your support for babies born too soon.

*I am still in my pajamas as I write this thinking about what I have purple to wear today. And I looked down and realized my pajamas are purple! Coincidence?

The March of Dimes, in conjunction with Bloggers Unite is asking bloggers to put a badge on your blog this month for Prematurity Awareness Month…

Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.

Medical advances give even the tiniest babies a chance of survival, yet for many babies premature birth is still a life or death condition. It’s the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. And babies who survive face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.

The rate of premature birth has never been higher. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. We need to fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.

November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers to get involved.

2 March of Dimes Collector Plates, Kuck, McClellend, Time to Love, Time to Plant US $4.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 6:04:52 PST   | Watch this Item

BS Photo March of Dimes Walkathon 1974 Health Care & Or US $15.00 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 8:32:59 PST   | Watch this Item

When CurlyQ Cuties heard about Maddie Spohr, they were profoundly touched. They reached out to her family to see if they could help raise money for the March of Dimes. Maddie’s parents, Heather and Mike, designed Maddie’s Monster in Maddie’s memory. Profits from the sale of Maddie’s Monster will donated to the March of Dimes in Maddie’s memory. Order yours today!

Madeline Alice Spohr was born 11 weeks premature on November 11th, 2009 to Heather and Mike Spohr of The Spohrs Are Multiplying and The Newborn Identity respectively.  Although Maddie had health issues associated with prematurity, she was doing quite well until an infection took her life on April 7th, 2009. The funeral for 17-month old Maddie Spohr was held today in California, where guests were encouraged to wear purple. Online bloggers have been mourning Maddie’s loss worldwide. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to the March of Dimes in memory of Madeline. You can read more about Maddie at RememberMaddie.com. Rest in Peace Little Girl.

The average cost of medical care for a premature or low birth-weight baby for its first year of life is about $49,000, according to a new report from the March of Dimes Foundation. By contrast, a newborn without complications costs $4,551 for care in its first year of life, the report said. Newborns with other kinds of complications, such as congenital defects, have medical expenses of $10,273 on average in the first year. Read Entire Article.

I think $49,000 seems like a low estimate. Considering by definition that a premature baby is one born before the 37th week of pregnancy, I can see how that can skew the results.  My youngest daughter, Tatym, was born over 3 weeks early (thus before the 37th week), but was still happy and healthy and a bouncing 7 lb. 4 oz. I didn’t consider her a preemie at all.

Whereas my twins were born over 13 weeks premature, and they maxed out the $1 million lifetime benefits on our health insurance.  See why I call Macy and Mallory my million dollar miracle babies?

I wonder how much the Octuplets‘ care is going to cost?!  I think I’m going to dress up as Octomom for Halloween this year! Where shall I look for a Plus size costume?