Parent Support in the Newborn ICU

What is Common Bonds?

Common Bonds is a peer based support group. All Volunteers are former antepartum patients and/or Newborn Intensive Care Unit parents at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. The idea of parents helping parents is at the core of the Common Bonds program. Through an established network of caring volunteers, Common Bonds helps provide parents with one-to-one and group support.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

National Prematurity Awareness Day

Today, November 17th is National Prematurity Awareness Day!

You probably didn't even know... This day isn't really covered well in the national news circuit. BUT, if you watched any television today you would have heard about reports of Bristol Palin beating out Brandy to remain on "Dancing With the Stars".

How many people in the US are affected by prematurity? According to the March of Dimes, over 500,000 babies are born too soon every year. In the past 25 years the rate of preterm birth in the United States has increased 36 percent.

Today, Bloggers Unite and the March of Dimes are encouraging bloggers to unite, fight and write blog posts during Prematurity Awareness Month to increase awareness of prematurity around the world.

As a parent of a preemie, I am adding my voice to the others. My daughter Reagan was born 8 years ago at 32 weeks gestation, she spent 3 1/2 months in the NICU. My life was drastically changed by the birth of my premature daughter. For the past 6 years, I have worked at the NICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center as the Parent Support Coordinator, on a daily basis I see peoples lives forever changed by the birth of their premature child.

Today we FIGHT, because babies shouldn't have to!

Please say a special prayer today for preterm babies and their families.

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