Almost 8 years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful boy. I was prepared, healthy and ready to go—but things didn’t go as planned.
Although I carried him to full term, there were some complications at delivery, resulting in a 3 day stay in the NICU. Today, my boy is thriving, and I am beyond grateful.
Too many parents don’t have a happy outcome—and that’s why I am committed, personally and professionally, to working towards healthy birth outcomes for all families.
November, Prematurity Awareness Month, presents an opportunity to talk about this critical issue while also considering ways we can support families and help them experience healthy birth outcomes.
Prematurity refers to babies born too early. A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks: babies born before 37 weeks are considered “premature”.
When babies are born too soon and too small, they can experience serious health problems. These complications are the leading cause of infant deaths in Milwaukee—and across the United States.
Sometimes babies are born too soon for unexplainable reasons. There are things we can do, however, to increase the chances of carrying a baby to term. If you are planning to get pregnant or just learned that you are pregnant, here are some ways to maximize your health and well-being:
- See a doctor—early and regularly
- If you experience any mouth pain, go see a dentist—dental care is very important when you are expecting!
- Stop smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke
- Do not use illegal drugs or drink alcohol
- Wait to have another baby! Physicians recommend waiting at least 18 months to become pregnant following a pregnancy
- Gain a healthy amount of weight—not too much, not too little. Your doctor or provider can help you understand what a healthy range is.
- And perhaps most critical—reduce stress and tension. It is so very important to take care of yourself physically and emotionally when pregnant. If you are experiencing metal health challenges or other distress, please seek help.
There are wonderful programs throughout our community that can provide you with support: call 2-1-1 for information about these and other resources.
Learn more about our community’s work to ensure that all babies are born ready to thrive.