Your support of the High Heels for High Hopes Campaign helps families like the Ludington family. Cassandra and Pablo Ludington welcomed baby Harley in Las Cruces in September 2018. However, she came 10 weeks early, and weighed only 3 pounds. Cassandra suffered from severe preeclampsia, a common diagnosis that puts the mother at risk of stroke, seizures, or organ failure. Baby Harley had to be delivered early to save Cassandra. After 2 months in the NICU, Harley finally came home.
The Ludington Family were fortunate to have a positive outcome, however, the rate of Premature Birth, in New Mexico and nationwide, has increased for the third year in a row. One out of every ten babies is born too soon - before 37 weeks.
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We believe that every baby deserves the best possible start. Unfortunately, not all babies get one. We are changing that.
For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. Now we’re building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background or demographics. We support moms throughout their pregnancy, even when everything doesn’t go according to plan. We advocate for policies that prioritize their health. We support radical improvements to the care they receive. And we pioneer research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies.
What began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal struggle with polio led to the creation of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as March of Dimes, and ultimately a cure for the disease. With that success behind us, we began to focus on fighting birth defects, premature birth and infant death with innovations like newborn screenings and surfactant therapy; education for medical professionals and the public about best practices; and lifesaving research. We provided comfort and support to families in NICUs and advocated for those who needed us most, moms and babies.
Today we are stronger and more committed than ever to guiding moms through every stage of the pregnancy journey. We are fighting for the smallest among us and advocating for their health each and every day. And we do so with the tools, technology and knowledge needed to build a brighter future for us all.
Learn more about our mission on the
March of Dimes website.
