SHARE Atlanta

Though I have written and shared over the years that MOD's supports our entire community, there have been some questions raised. So, I asked Monica to "check it out for us" and she did. At the bottom, you can see my thank you and reply...Marcia 3.07

From the March of Dime's National Office's communications director, via Monica, our local March of Dime's representative and friend.

Thank you for your inquiry. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates are working together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their lives and their health.

The March of Dimes funds many biomedical research grants focused on such problems as chromosome defects, malformations of the heart and other vital organs, abnormalities of the placenta, and certain infections, all of which are causes of stillbirth. Causes of birth defects and death in liveborn infants overlap considerably with causes of stillbirth.

On an historical note, the March of Dimes supported original research conducted by Frank Manning in the development of the "fetal biophysical profile," a widely used system for assessing risk of stillbirth, described at

Article

The March of Dimes National Office of Government Affairs and State chapters work continually for national and state public policies to improve maternal, infant and child health, including advocacy for more investment in research into the many causes of infant death and disability.

The March of Dimes provides educational materials on pregnancy and newborn loss, freely available to parents and health professionals on our Web site at:

Article

Spanish language Web site

Also, the March of Dimes offers a printed copy of bereavement materials at no charge to parents or other family members who have experienced the loss of a baby, in both English and Spanish. These can be ordered via our Web site at:

Printed Grief Materials

Thank you again for your inquiry and for giving us this opportunity to provide you with accurate information about stillbirth and the March of Dimes.

Monica,

Thank you so very much! It is as I thought and what I have been sharing with our group. All overlaps and the March of Dime's research can help everyone who has experienced a loss. I am very pleased to be able to pass this "official" statement along to our group members. I will place it on our website.

In my mind, it is very, very important for us to support those organizations that are looking to end preterm birth/death. We must stay positive with one another in order that we may do the most good for the most families. I know that in the 21 years that I have been supporting bereaved parents, there have been few medical initiatives anywhere. When they are happening, we need to be vocal in our support.

Also, understanding of vocabulary and needs comes gradually, when they do come we must applaud them and embrace them and move along. And, we have been making families aware of your free materials (pregnancy and grief) for many years.

Thank you for seeking this information...we continue to support the March of Dimes!

Sincerely,

Marcia

SHARE Atlanta: Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Grief Support since 1984