One day, I came across an article discussing Infant Mortality. After reading it a ½ dozen times, it immediately became very personal for me. Shiloh turned 5 on January 10 of this year, and although we didn’t celebrate with him physically, we celebrated his spirit and our memories. The facts highlighted in the article took me by suprised.
Facts:
- 1 out of every 8 pregnancies in the U.S. results in a preterm birth and roughly 7 of 1000 births end with the death of the child;
- 1 out of 4 African-American babies are born preterm with 14 of 1000 births ending with the death of a child;
- 1 in 5 women are obese at the beginning of their pregnancy, placing them at increased risk of complications, including high blood pressure and diabetes, during pregnancy
- Of women who could get pregnant, 69% do not take recommended folic acid supplements, 31% are obese, and about 3% take prescription or over-the-counter drugs that are known to cause birth defects
- Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant deaths, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths
- Infants born to obese women are twice as likely to be obese and to develop type 2 diabetes later in life
- Poor diet, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and poor prenatal care can lead to preterm births
My BIG Idea for 2012:
I’ve been searching for a way to honor Shiloh turning 5 this year and believe that a campaign to raise funds for March of Dimes and bring awareness to the infant mortality rate. We can attack this problem and reduce the overall Infant Mortality Rate. I love cycling and I’m committed to reducing the IMR. The best way to connect the the two is ride for a cause. Shiloh was born 16 weeks before his due date, but he will ride with me from April to August to raise money, speak to the masses, and make a difference in the life of a newborn. The goal is simple, 3k miles & 2k dollars in 5 months culminating with a 100 mile ride in 5 hours at Hotter n’ Hell (google it!).
Motivation to exercise:
I need your help to hammer out 3k miles. Check out the “how you can help” tab and make a pledge to ride/run/walk. Leave your mileage and discipline in the comments section.
The message is simple. Poor health contributes to preterm birth, which contributes to the infant mortality rate. I remember telling Shiloh “control what you can control, when you can control it”, which is a perfect motto for our awareness campaign. In the end, we hope to have encouraged families to exercise, choose healthier foods, and seek prenatal care.
