March of Dimes "Stadium" Public Service Announcement

Duration: 01:01 minutes Upload Time: 07-03-29 15:49:36 User: MarchofDimes :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day

Description: Prematurity is the leading killer of America's newborns. Those who survive often have lifelong health problems, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, blindness and hearing loss. Prematurity has been escalating steadily and alarmingly over the past two decades. In 2004, more than 500,000 infants were born prematurely, the highest number ever reported for the U.S. In 2005, the United States as a society paid at least $26.2 billion in economic costs associated with preterm birth (medical and educational expenses, loss in productivity). Preterm delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. The causes of nearly half of all preterm births are unknown. The March of Dimes has taken on this devastating problem—to find out what causes it and how it can be stopped.