Bringing Light to Prematurity Awareness with a Fun Contest from The Center for Women & Infants at The University of Tennessee Medical Center
When I was pregnant with my son, I attended all of the classes, read every book I could get my hands on and was well-versed in the dos and don’ts of pregnancy. Anytime I read anything sobering about what could happen either during pregnancy or delivery, I silently assured myself that those things would not happen to me or my son. So when I stood by and watched a dear friend of mine deliver her babies at 23 weeks and then myself go into labor just into my 37th week, everything I had read about and hoped wouldn’t happen, became very real.
Conversations surrounding prematurity are often the last thing new mothers want to participate in, let alone think about when imagining what it is going to be like when your new precious baby enters this world. However, the reality is that 1 in 9 babies are born prematurely in the United States. Despite the preterm birth rate in the U.S. having declined to 11% over the last seven years, that percentage is still higher than that of most developed nations. Whether an infant is born months early or even just a few weeks early, they are at risk for health problems and lifelong disabilities.
Since today is World Prematurity Day, it is a great time for all of us mommies to help raise awareness about the serious problem of premature birth in the U.S. Prematurity Awareness is many things, including helping provide funds to research and find the causes of premature birth, educating women about the signs of premature labor and steps they can take to lower their risk, providing information and emotional support to families affected by prematurity, and in general creating conversation and action around the problem.
The Center for Women and Infants at The University of Tennessee Medical Center invites you to join us in raising prematurity awareness in Tennessee in a fun way with four weeks of great giveaways!
How to Enter:
- You can go to the Center for Women and Infants Facebook page or follow this link to enter.
- Fill out the entry form and tell us your best pregnancy tip for new moms.
- Share with friend for bonus entry on Facebook and Twitter #UTBabyVol
Giveaways:
Week 1:
- Free UT Medical Center childbirth education class of choice, including a hospital tour in 2014 or 2015
- Tote bag from Women & Infants
- Two $25 gift cards to Knoxville restaurants
- New York Times bestselling children’s books: Dragons Love Tacos, Once Upon an Alphabet, The Day the Crayons Quit, and The Book With No Pictures
Week 2:
- Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat
Week 3:
- Pack and Play
- Newborn diapers
- Baby Wipes
Week 4:
- Bella Baby photography session (at UT Medical Center in-hospital session) and digital package of all photos
