The following is a news release from Covenant Children’s:
Covenant Children’s CEO Dr. Amy Thompson will be the Lubbock Chair for the March of Dimes, March for Babies Campaign in 2018-2019.
Dr. Thompson is leading the city wide efforts to support March of Dimes through their annual walk campaign.
Dr. Thompson commented, “I am excited about this opportunity to support an organization that brings a lot of value and support to Covenant Health and specifically the Children’s Hospital. We work with March of Dimes in many different ways related to our NICU babies but since our Children’s campus is also the home to Women’s Services, we have specifically been promoting their “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait.” This particular March of Dimes campaign urges women to wait for labor to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling delivery before 39 weeks. The education materials support the outstanding care our Obstetricians provide for our patients resulting in Covenant Children’s having an overall Cesarean rate below the national average and Caesarean rates among first time moms are consistently well below the Joint Commission standard.”
“The last weeks of pregnancy are important. Babies aren’t just putting on weight. They are undergoing important development of the brain, lungs and other vital organs,” said Amy Johnson-Rubio, March of Dimes Maternal and Child Health Director. “We congratulate Covenant Health and specifically the Children’s Hospital for taking this important step to lessen unnecessary early deliveries and help give babies the best possible start.”
Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than babies born after 39 weeks, the March of Dimes says. They may also have health problems later in life. Being pregnant 39 weeks gives your baby’s body all the time it needs to grow. Your baby is less likely to have vision and hearing problems and has time to gain more weight in the womb, providing him an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
“Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait” is March of Dimes campaign that urges women to wait for labor to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling delivery before 39 weeks. March of Dimes supports moms through every stage of the pregnancy journey, even when everything doesn’t go according to plan.”
Dr. Thompson will be kicking off the city wide March for Babies in 2019 but encourages her team to raise funds all year for the health of moms and babies.
(News release from Covenant Children’s)
