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Imagine having a baby three months early that weighs less than two pounds. You don’t know if your child will survive. You don’t know why this happened.

Babies are born too soon every day in West Michigan and in communities across the nation. The March of Dimes is working to find out what causes babies to be born too soon and how premature birth can be prevented.

Over the past decade, the number of babies born preterm has increased at an alarming rate. Over half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States equating to one out of every eight babies. The causes of most premature births are still largely unknown. Prematurity is the number one killer of newborns in our country. Premature babies may also suffer serious long-term consequences. These babies may develop problems such as blindness and learning disabilities that affect them for their entire lives. The direct health care costs to employers for premature babies during the first year of their lives average $41,610, compared to $2,830 for babies born healthy and full term. The emotional costs can not be estimated.

Your generous donation this evening will help the March of Dimes and our researchers continue to find answers to the mysteries of prematurity.