part of the solution

*Essential information about the induction epidemic!!!*

The 2008 Petition for Preemies launched by the March of Dimes is a four-point petition which calls for hospital leaders to voluntarily review all cesarean-section births and inductions of labor that occur before 39 weeks gestation in an effort to reverse America’s rising preterm birth rate. The review is intended to ensure that all c-sections and inductions meet established American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines regarding medical necessity of elective procedures. The Petition is supported by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Business Group on Health, and more than two dozen other maternal and infant health agencies, concerned business and quality improvement organizations. In addition, the Petition calls for: expanded federal support for prematurity-related research; policymakers to improve access to health coverage for women of childbearing age and support smoking cessation programs as part of maternity care; and businesses to create workplaces that support maternal and infant health. The March of Dimes will follow up the Petition with the release of their Premature Birth Report Card, which will be released on November 12th (Prematurity Awareness Day) and will grade the nation and the state son their preterm birth rate.

To sign the Petition, go here