November 13, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Healthy Babies
Each week we examine stories that affect people who live and work in the Bay Area.
In this episode we are discussing the dangers of premature birth. Babies born even a few weeks early face serious risks of death and long-term disability, including possible respiratory problems, cerebral palsy, and under-developed organs.
According to the March of Dimes, one in 10 babies in the United States is born prematurely, making it the leading cause of newborn death.
That's nearly 380,000 babies, a staggering number with a devastating impact on the family.
Prematurity costs the nation more than $26 billion each year. Sadly, there is no clear cause in nearly half of all premature births.
Hopefully, that will change dramatically, and soon. Thanks to the creation of March of Dimes "Prematurity Research Centers" across the country, doctors and scientists are working to solve the mysteries of preterm birth.
Studio Guests:
Wendy Armstrong
Daughter was born prematurely
Board Member, March of Dimes
http://marchofdimes.org/ca
https://facebook.com/marchofdimesca
https://twitter.com/modcal
Balaji Govindaswami, MD, MPH
Chief of Neonatalogy, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Volunteer, March of Dimes
https://scvmc.org/
http://marchofdimes.org/ca
https://facebook.com/marchofdimesca
https://twitter.com/modcal
Virginia Winn, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Stanford University
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Director of Perinatal Biology Research
Harmon Faculty Scholar
http://obgyn.stanford.edu
Erica Alexander
Maternal Child Health Program Impact Leader, March of Dimes
http://marchofdimes.org/ca
https://facebook.com/marchofdimesca
https://twitter.com/modcal
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