March of Dimes Advocates
for Mothers and Babies
by Kaija Shaffer
The March of Dimes is the #1 advocate
for mothers and babies. With increasing rates of infant mortality,
the March of Dimes is tirelessly working to increase awareness
of Newborn Screening, the importance of a diet rich in folic acid
and also the increasing rate of premature birth.
Newborn screening for potentially life-threatening disorders is
the focus of the March of Dimes for the January observance of Birth
Defects Prevention Month. Newborn screening can help assure that
infants with detectable conditions get immediate treatment and avoid
the devastating consequences of undetected conditions.
All states screen newborns
for some metabolic birth defects. These conditions cannot be seen
in the newborn, but can cause physical problems, mental retardation
and, in some cases, death. Most babies get a clean bill of health
but, if test results show that the baby has a birth defect, early
diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between lifelong
disabilities and healthy development. Except for hearing screening,
all of these tests are done using a few drops of blood from the
newborn’s heel.
Each state determines which conditions it will screen. Minnesota
currently screens for more than 20 conditions including those recommended
by the March of Dimes. Expanded testing has been approved and is
waiting funding.
Over the past two years, the March of Dimes updated its recommendations
about newborn screening, increasing the minimum to 30 conditions
from 10. The update was made in support of a report prepared for
the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U. S. Health Resources
and Services Administration by the American College of Medical Genetics
(ACMG). The March of Dimes commended the ACMG report for advancing
the field of newborn screening, defining a uniform panel of conditions
to test for, and providing a policy framework for the states.
“All these genetic conditions have an impact on the family,” said
Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. Thanks to
advances in scientific technology, especially the use of tandem mass
spectrometry, the capability exists to provide efficient and economical
testing for a wider variety of disorders, and to help more babies
lead full and healthy lives, Howse explained.
The conditions being recommended for screening can be grouped as
follows: three categories of metabolic disorders: organic acid, amino
acid, and fatty acid; as well as hemoglobin disorders; and other
disorders. Sickle cell anemia is a hemoglobin disorder and cystic
fibrosis is included in the other category.
Perhaps the best-known amino acid disorder is PKU; a disorder in
which a baby cannot process a part of protein called phenylaline,
which is found in nearly all foods. It is managed with diet, but
left undetected, it causes brain damage and mental retardation.
In addition to newborn
screening and in accordance with our mission to improve the health
of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant
mortality, the March of Dimes conducted a National Folic Acid Campaign
from 1999-2002 to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects.
The March of Dimes continues to fund research and community grants
to reduce/eliminate birth defects. The March of Dimes has continued
involvement with agencies working to increase folic acid awareness
and consumption. The March of Dimes remains actively involved in
the leadership of the National Council on Folic Acid, continues
to conduct surveys among women of childbearing age and health care
professionals. If women of childbearing age consume 400 mcg of folic
acid daily before and during early pregnancy, it may help reduce
their baby’s risk for birth defects of the brain and spine,
also known as neural tube defects (NTDs).
The Folic Acid Campaign
utilized the Foundation’s strengths—bi-partisanship,
strong community and national partnerships, MCH expertise, volunteers—and
its reputation to draw attention to, and impact, an important public
health issue facing families and babies. Successes of the campaign
include:
• Folic acid awareness increased from 52% to 80% among women of
childbearing age
• Folic acid was added to the nation’s grain supply
• The incidence of neural tube defects decreased 19% from 1995
to 1999 (JAMA)
• Establishment of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities (NCBDDD) at CDC
Folic acid will continue as a Foundation educational program. New
national and state leadership already has been identified to carry
on daily operations of the campaign. The Foundation is now ready
to build on this experience and use its strengths to address another
issue of central importance to our mission: premature birth.
Birth defects are also related to premature birth, which has increased
29% since 1981. Many premature infants are also affected by birth
defects. In 2003, the March of Dimes launched a multi-year, multi-million
dollar national campaign to fund research and to reduce the incidence
of premature birth. On average, 136 babies are born too soon in Minnesota
each week. Premature babies have an increased chance of suffering
from hearing and vision problems, chronic lung disease, cerebral
palsy and mental retardation.
The March of Dimes is a national
voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of
babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community
services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information,
visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com or its
Spanish language Web site at www.nacersano.org.
The Minnesota Chapter of the
March of Dimes is always looking for volunteers who care about maternal
and infant health. We raise awareness and funds through a number
of special events throughout the year. Go to: www.marchofdimes.com/minnesota to
find events near you. If you would like more information about how
you can make a difference in the lives of babies in MN, call 952-835-3033
or e-mail kshaffer@marchofdimes.com
Kaija Shaffer is the State Director of Communications, March of
Dimes, MN Chapter.
