« Local Hospital in the Spotlight, & a call for March of Dimes Support | DC BABY: Home | DC BABY: The Book | Postnatal Family Yoga Event in Bethesda »
March 15, 2006
Local Hospital in the Spotlight, & a call for March of Dimes Support
Anybody catch part of the six-hour "Birth Day Live" marathon on the Discovery Health Channel last night? It featured local, DC mamas giving birth!
The show was broadcast live from three American hospitals - one of which was our very own Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, the largest community hospital in the state of Maryland. Ob/gyn Dr. Footer and the nursing staff of Holy Cross were also prominently featured, as well as the US Surgeon General attending one of the cesarean deliveries.
Honestly, I was very disappointed to see a disproportionately high number of cesarean surgeries on the show - about twice the rate of the actual American c-section rate (which, IMO, is already inappropriately high). My husband and I kept waiting and waiting for a non-surgical birth, but they were few and far between. At times I felt that the producers of "Birth Day Live" made ob/gyns the heroes of childbirth, rather than the mothers.
On the plus side, I was thrilled to see the producers leverage spokes-families and neonatal experts from The March of Dimes. The show did an excellent job of sharing the March of Dimes message about the prevention and treatment of prematurity.
I'm a former community board member and team leader for The March of Dimes' biggest annual fundraiser, WalkAmerica. And again this year I'm helping to raise money for research, public education, and treatment advances for preemie, at-risk babies and their families. I challenge local parents to make a donation to the DC Metro March of Dimes WalkAmerica this year - Do it in honor of your own DC baby!
Click here to make a contribution to our DC WalkAmerica 2006!
Here's how your money can help:
* $100 provides 10 families of babies in newborn intensive care with information to support and ease their fears and uncertainty.
* $330 provides nurses with online continuing education about preterm labor.
* $500 funds a program to help pregnant women quit smoking.
* $900 provides 15,000 pregnant women with wallet cards listing the signs of preterm labor and what to do if it happens to them.
Also, bring your DC baby and join us for the local event on April 30, starting at 9 a.m. on the National Mall. Start location of the family-friendly walk, which also features live entertainment and activities, is the Sylvan Theater (15th St. NW & Constitution Ave.) Strollers are welcome! You can find out more about the DC chapter and this year's WalkAmerica at the Capitol Area March of Dimes website.
Other DC-area walks will be held in Montgomery County and NoVa. Click here to find the event closest to you.
Posted by Sarah at March 15, 2006 11:09 AM.
