Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer.
Today’s topic for Philanthropy Friday is something that I know is near and dear to a few of my readers’ hearts.
Newborn health is often something we take for granted here in the United States unless we are personally affected by a complicated pregnancy, premature birth or have lost an infant.
We simply don’t want to think about the horror of losing a child.
Each year, nearly 3 million newborns die around the world and 2.6 million babies are stillborn. 99% of these newborns die in low- and middle-income countries.
The major causes of newborn death are prematurity, infection, and birth asphyxia. The sad part is that the majority of newborn deaths can be prevented.
In past Philanthropy Friday posts, you’ve read Bridget’s and Alexa’s stories. Both suffered the loss of a child and both are advocating for and supporting other mothers who grieve in their own ways.
Kristine McCormick, a fellow Global Team of 200 member and author of Cora’s Story, lost her daughter in 2009. Today she is on a mission to save other babies.
http://youtu.be/ybvgqVWK60E
Watch Kristine McCormick’s video
On April 15th, the first global conference on newborn health will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 4-day conference is supported by Gates Foundation, Save the Children, MCHIP and UNICEF. The Global Newborn Health Conference aims to start conversations about the challenges countries face with newborn health, share best practices and get commitment by attendees to take action on newborn programming in their countries.
We need to have these conversations.
Will you join me in advocating for newborn health?
Here are a few ways you can help:
- Follow @gdarmsta on Twitter and retweet #Newborn2013 “Did You Know?” facts
- Follow the Advocating for Newborn Health tumblr site
- Share this and other posts dedicated to newborn health on social media
- Join the 2013 Global Newborn Health Conference through Social Media
More posts on the subject of newborn health
- What You Might Not Know About Saving Newborn Lives
- Join the Global Conversation About Newborn Health
- Continuing the Global Newborn Health and Survival Conversation
I wrote this post as part of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls.
I love that this has become a global mission. In the US, the hospitals have such advanced technology now, that sick or preemie babies have these amazing chances of survival. Yet, I am keenly aware that at another time or in another place, my 31 week son may not have made it. Thank you for raising the awareness!
I was thinking about you and Alexa when I wrote this post, Ilene. I have a few friends who gave birth to preemies. It’s amazing what we can do now to save babies. We need to make sure options are available to everyone and that health care workers know what interventions are available and work.
I was an accepted fact many years ago that twins preemies and babies born after difficult births may not live. In NY City in the early 1900’s my mother and Godmother were two of those circumstances. Mom was a difficult birth, her mother died in childbirth and all the plans were made to bury my mother with her when the time came; she lived. My Aunt Frances and her sister Marguerite, my father’s eldest sisters were a twins born over ninety years ago, small and fragile. Women never went to the hospital to give birth. This was the only time my nana did, the babies were tiny and slightly underdeveloped. With the lack of technology my aunt Marguerite didn’t have the strength and died within weeks of her birth.
It truly is a blessing that we have come so far. So many beautiful babies given a chance that wouldn’t have had any if it weren’t for the advances in the care and technology of our newborns. One baby lost is too many!!
So true, Jen. And thanks for sharing your family’s story. It’s amazing when you think about the fact that some of our grandparents and great grandparents never went to a hospital to give birth!
Wow, so sad…I can’t imagine!! Thanks so much for sharing this with us Jennifer! Have a wonderful weekend!
You welcome, Michell. You have a wonderful weekend yourself.
Oh this is deeply touching my heart as I read this post. My gosh, that is a reality check for me. Thank you for sharing this Jennifer….
Reality check is right. As Jen said above, one baby lost is too many!
I really love Philanthropy Friday.
I hadn’t heard about this conference before now. We’d love to support this conference and their mission. –The Dose Girls
That’s so great to hear, Girls!
Cool post. I don’t have kiddos, but I did have a miscarriage once…and I think that’s another subject you don’t hear much about, because the loss for me was so tremendous (and it came two months after my big brother’s passing) that it took me a couple years to entertain the idea of even trying again. But…now we’ll see. I’m kind of hopeful that it will happen soon. 🙂
That must have been a really hard time for you, Cyndi. Miscarriage really is something that isn’t talked about much. I don’t think anyone is ever prepared to lose a child. I hope you have the chance to have a child soon!
This is wonderful Jen! I’m sorry i just got around to this today! I will so be reblogging this!
Thanks, Alexa!