Today is National Prematurity Awareness day and I am wearing purple! I am wearing purple in honor of my cousins who were both born early and spent time in the NICU and in honor of my friends Nikkie and Erik’s little girl Brady who was due 2 months before K, but came much sooner than expected. Nikkie ended up giving birth to Brady at 28 weeks because she developed pre-eclampsia or “pre-e”. This is the same reason my aunt delivered my 2 cousins early- her blood pressure both times got to dangerously high levels and the only cure is to deliver the baby. In her situation delivery was more about saving her life than my cousins. Her oldest suffered a brain bleed as a result of the dangerously high blood pressure levels- but is a walking miracle who turned 22 just last week!


Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature and 1 out of 8 babies born each year falls in this category. As a state, Georgia received an F this year and the US as a whole received a D on this years report card put out by the March of Dimes. To receive an F a state must have more than 13.2 % of all births be premature- In Georgia 13.4% of all babies are born prior to 37 weeks. More newborns die each day from prematurity than any other cause. In most cases this is not the fault of the mother and is something that is out of her control. In the case of my friend Nikkie and my aunt- nothing they did caused their blood pressure to increase to dangerous levels and nothing they could have done would have prevented it. This is a scary thought- when I had my miscarriage I was convinced for the longest that it was the result of something I had done wrong … not taking my vitamins one day, falling down when I was bowling, taking too hot a shower… I can only imagine the thoughts that would have gone through my head if K had to spend any time in the NICU when she was born.

Because of Nikkie and my aunt, I knew just how lucky I was that I was able to hold and nurse K almost immediately upon entering recovery and for her being able to stay in my room the whole time we were at the hospital. Mothers of preemies do not get to hold their babies most times for days or weeks and nursing is out of the question in the beginning. It also made me cherish even more they day we went home. Most parents of preemies have to leave their babies behind at the hospital for additional days, weeks, and months. I want to burst into tears just thinking about how hard that is.

I encourage you today to check out Nikkie’s post today about Brady and why this day is so important to her and to also read some of her older post from when Brady was born. God has worked miracles in that little girl’s life in the 2 short years she has been on this earth. She started out weighing less than 2lbs and is now the most adorable little toddler who brings her parents such joy! I encourage you also to the visit the March of Dimes website and read up on this important issue. Pass the info along to those you know who are pregnant and arm yourself with life changing knowledge. Donate even if you can and feel led to. Be a voice for those who are too small to talk and be the kind of change this world needs!