Prematurity Awareness

To view our preemie products that give back,
please click here.

In January 2015, I gave birth to our second son, who was born at 34 weeks. None of us saw this coming, and while I thought he may come before my scheduled C-Section date, I wasn’t expecting him to be born 6 weeks early. 

I had heard about and known premature babies, but I couldn’t really imagine that happening to 'my' family. I didn’t know what it entailed to the fullest extent, and I didn’t know how something so small could change my life in such an impactful way. Today, our boy is now a strong, healthy toddler, but the first year was a roller coaster to say the least. I am so thankful he is thriving today, because I know things could have gone so differently, and I know there are families still going through hardships today with their preemies. I am also extremely grateful for the experience to connect with other preemie mama’s and daddy’s through social media and in my home state.

Each year, November 17th is National World Prematurity Day.  Though 11/17 is only one day a year, I believe the epidemic of premature births deserve more focus, research, funding, and support EACH day. I will continue to give back to this initiative each month. Our “little warrior, courageous heart" and "FIGHT SIZE" designs were inspired by my own preemie, starting with his struggles and ultimately his perseverance. Going through this journey now several years later, I've been able to also hear stories of the negative stigma that surrounds premature births and the notion that it's a mother's fault (unhealthy lifestyle, drug use, lived in poverty, unsanitary living conditions, etc) or something the mother did wrong to have a premature baby. Let's end that stigma together.

A portion of the proceeds from both of these will be donated to March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, ongoing on a monthly basis. If you know a fighter, then possibly this message I’ve created through this product will speak to you as well. 

You can read more on premature birth {below} from the March of Dimes website, as this initiative is something I am very passionate about. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes since we we began on this journey.

"Every year, about 450,000 babies are born too soon in the United States. After rising by 36 percent over 25 years (1981-2006), our country's preterm birth rate has declined by 11 percent over the last 7 years. However, the U.S. preterm birth rate remains too high at 11.4 percent, which is higher than that of most developed nations.
Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year and takes a high toll on families. Babies born just a few weeks early are at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.
In 2003, the March of Dimes launched the Prematurity Campaign to address the crisis and help families have full-term, healthy babies. We’re funding lifesaving research and speaking out for legislation that improves care for moms and babies. Worldwide, 15 million babies are born prematurely each year. In 2008, the campaign was expanded globally.
Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® is a comprehensive initiative by the March of Dimes to prevent preventable preterm birth, with a focus on reducing elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation. Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait involves an education and awareness campaign, hospital quality improvement and community intervention programs. These strategies are focused on interventions and activities that have the potential to make an immediate, substantial and measurable impact on preterm birth."