Children's Corporate Center illuminated in purple.

When expecting a baby, new parents usually plan for the baby to be born near the due date.  But, each year more than 12.9 million babies around the world are born too soon – before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staff at Children’s Hospital cared for more than 300 infants diagnosed with prematurity last year.

Before I started my work with the March of Dimes, my only experience with prematurity was my cousin, who was born weighing less than four pounds and now is a healthy young adult who is more than 6 feet tall. Unfortunately, not all premature babies are so lucky. Prematurity can lead to lifelong health issues such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, vision and hearing loss and mental retardation. In fact, prematurity is the No. 1 cause of infant death.

Despite all of the research and medical advances of the past few decades, the rate of prematurity is rising. Children’s Corporate Center and the Children’s Clinics Building entrance is lighted in purple – the March of Dimes’ signature color – through all of  November to help raise awareness in our community. Check out the March of Dimes Web site to find out more about what you can do to make sure every baby has a healthy start.

–Melissa Hages, NICU Family Support Specialist

We’ve had some beautiful fall days lately and of course, living in Wisconsin, we’re never sure how many more of those we’ll get before the snow falls. These days are a popular time for bonfires and leaf burning, and in some communities they are very commonplace. They also can be dangerous to your child’s health.

Burning wood and other yard waste releases harmful particles into the air. These particles are too tiny to see, but they have the ability to travel into the deepest parts of your lungs. Just like cigarette smoke, the smoke from wood and leaves can cause irritation to the lungs, eyes, nose and throat.

Your kids may complain of chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, burning eyes, a runny nose or sore throat. These symptoms can last for days after exposure to the smoke. If a child has asthma, symptoms may get worse, and he or she may even have an asthma attack. Children and individuals with underlying medical problems like asthma and allergies are the first to feel the effects of smoke, and are at the greatest risk for problems.

Here’s what you can do to protect your child’s health:

• Avoid or minimize exposure to bonfires and leaf burning. If your child can’t stay indoors, protect him or her with a mask or a scarf over the nose and mouth.
• If your child has asthma, make sure you have his or her rescue medications, usually an inhaler, readily available.
• If your child has an underlying medical condition make sure he or she is taking the medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• If your child has been exposed to smoke and is having trouble breathing, seek medical care immediately.

If you are burning to dispose of yard waste, please consider checking into alternate methods of yard waste disposal like mulching.
And, as always, take proper safety precautions to prevent burns.

–Lauren Donovan, MD, fellow, Pulmonary Clinic, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Captain Cough

This current round of H1N1 (swine) flu is hitting kids hard. While local physicians have been working diligently to help children with flu symptoms, Children’s Flu Fighters have been out in our communities teaching kids how to prevent flu bugs from striking.

Children’s Hospital launched the Flu Fighters program in September as an outreach campaign targeting schools and daycares, primarily in Wisconsin. It’s a Web-based program (www.childrensflufighters.com) with free, online resources.

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