Fight for Preemies on BigBrother’s Birthday

Prematurity is an issue that is very close to my heart. I walk (almost) every year with March of Dimes because I am so grateful to have birthed three healthy children. To get them to that point of healthiness, I had to work very hard, lay very still and rely on the medical world to keep my children in my womb. I’m not particularly good at pregnancy, my kidney disorder causing preterm labor to begin as early as eighteen weeks.

I’ll be telling more of my story, especially for my newer readers who don’t know about my very complicated pregnancy history, on November 17th here on the blog. Why? March of Dimes is hosting a Bloggers Unite event entitled Fight for Preemies as part of Prematurity Awareness Month®. We will be participating and telling our story, or rather, stories of the fight to keep those babies in my womb for as long as possible. Some of you might be thinking, “But weren’t your babies born full term?” The answer is, “Yes, but only thanks to medical intervention.”

I tell you all of this now, a month and a day before the March of Dimes & Bloggers Unite event, because I want you to tell other people. Right now there are 168 bloggers signed up to participate. Sadly, with over 500,000 babies born premature every year, I know that there are more than 168 bloggers out there touched by prematurity. Maybe you didn’t have to fight preterm labor or use medical interventions to stay pregnant. Maybe you didn’t give birth to a premature baby. But I’m guessing that you know someone or are related to someone who has experienced premature birth. Maybe you are the aunt or uncle of a beautiful premature miracle. Maybe you lit a candle yesterday for a baby you were waiting for that lost the battle. Whatever the case, March of Dimes wants you to get involved. In their words, “We need to fight ? because babies shouldn’t have to.” Yes. What they said.

Here’s how.

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

• Learn about premature birth at marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies.
• Put a badge on your blog during November, Prematurity Awareness Month®. (Ours is already up.)
• On November 17, blog for a baby you love and to help others. Sign up Bloggers Unite so that others may find you and your post(s).

What makes me all the more emotional about this topic is that they are holding the Bloggers Unite event on BigBrother’s birthday. While he was born at a robust eight pounds, eight ounces, that pregnancy was hard won. It started off difficult and remained that was for its 38 week, 4 day duration. We are so blessed that we can participate in Fight for Preemies while simultaneously celebrating four years of his life. Without research and support by March of Dimes, that might not be the case.

Come back on November 17th to hear about the hows and whys of BigBrother’s tumultuous pregnancy and the similarities between the other two live births. We will also be reading, commenting and linking to other Fight for Preemies posts on that day via twitter and our blog here. If you plan on participating, please let me know. I want to be ready to link to your story.

Come back and learn how these two boys (and their sister) got the chance to be so big.

And noisy. Don’t forget noisy.