March of Dimes ready to take steps for healthy babies

On Saturday, April 21, at Naval Heritage Park, residents will join together and walk for healthier babies.  “Each step we take at March for Babies brings us closer to the day when every baby will have a healthy start in life,” said Ryan Connelly, 2012 Ambassador Family.
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year. The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to those affected.
The Connelly family understands firsthand what it can mean if a baby is not born healthy.
“We thought we’d planned for everything in our pregnancy, from the anticipated due date to the best chances in gender selection, but when the doctor humored us with an ultrasound at only one week pregnant, we had not planned for twins! And girls! Twenty-five weeks later, we found ourselves attempting to plan again in celebrating with friends and family at a co-ed baby shower when yet again the girls had other plans,” the family describes. There wer issues with Emilia’s ‘Baby A’ placenta. “The babies were born by emergency C-section the next day. Emilia was born first at 10:03 a.m., weighing 2 lbs., and Olivia right behind her at 10:05 a.m., weighing 1 lb, 14 oz. After months of 3 a.m. feedings for two hungry babies with at least one screaming heart monitor, everyone is healthy and doing great.”
The family will share their story to help the March of Dimes raise awareness and funds to help all babies get a healthy start by fighting serious threats to infant health.
In Beaufort, the March for Babies presenting sponsor is Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Other sponsors include Beaufort Pediatrics, MCAS of Beaufort, Beaufort OB/GYN, Stokes Honda, Toyota and Used Cars, All Children’s Pediatrics, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Carolina Sportscare & Physical Therapy. To register, visit marchforbabies.org.