Letter to the editor: We all need to help more babies grow up healthy

Talk about it

Many of us have family members or friends who are smoking while pregnant. We worry about how the smoking may slow the baby’s growth and increase the risk of a preterm delivery or even a stillbirth. But we’re also worried about offending the mom. So we don’t say anything.

The March of Dimes has created a solution to the dilemma: “Prematurity Awareness Month” all during November. By mentioning to our special moms that the purpose of “Prematurity Awareness Month” is to raise public awareness of the serious consequences of preterm birth, we may be able to start a discussion in a non-threatening way.

There’s so much at stake, because premature and low-birthweight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems and chronic lifelong disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and mental retardation — and even death.

We can also visit www.marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies and learn ways to persuade officials to commit more resources to helping all moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Tamie Gerntholz, R.N.

Sanborn, N.D.

(Gerntholz is a volunteer with the Barnes County Tobacco Network)

Tags: opinion, letters, babies, infants, pregnant, pregnancy, smoking, tobacco