March takes steps for babies' health

March of Dimes backers will put their best feet forward for the NWA March for Babies on April 1 at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

After trying for nearly four years to conceive a baby and going through in vitro fertilization, Adrienne and Jonathon Woods found out they were expecting twins. The babies were born eight weeks premature March 10, 2016, at Willow Creek Women's Hospital in Johnson, where they remained to be treated in the neonatal intensive care unit for some six weeks before going home.

"It's because of (the twins') story we're humbled and honored to be the 2017 March for Babies Mission Family, and we're challenged to ensure that each baby is afforded the same opportunity as ours," said Adrienne.

Along with the traditional fundraising walk, activities include the "Superhero Sprint," a kids fun run -- including capes; "Ambassador Avenue" for NICU graduates; and the "Memory Mile" in memorial of babies lost.

Mellissa Wood, executive director of market development for the March of Dimes, Northwest Arkansas division, said the nonprofit organization's overall mission is to "improve the health of infants and children by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality." The organization is working toward goals to "reduce preterm birth rates in the U.S. to 8.1 percent by 2020 and 5.5 percent by 2030."

To that end, campaign organizers have established seven interventions for the campaign: reducing nonmedically indicated elective deliveries; increasing use of progesterone for women with a history of prior preterm birth; reducing tobacco use among pregnant women; encouraging women to space pregnancies at least 18 months apart; increasing use of low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia; advancing interventions for women diagnosed with a short cervix; and reducing multiple births conceived through assisted reproductive technology.

-- CARIN SCHOPPMEYER

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NAN Our Town on 03/23/2017