DETROIT - In observance of November as Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Day on Nov. 17, Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center are encouraging area mothers-to-be to take advantage of a powerful and free nonprofit program that is helping mothers throughout Detroit deliver healthy full-term babies on or after their due date.

Premature babies can face serious health challenges throughout their lives. The city's Make Your Date program provides a consistent approach among local health care providers in how they deliver support and care to expectant mothers to help them carry their babies to full term. The initiative was launched in May by Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne State University, Detroit's leading health systems and other key partners.

Sign up is easy: Visit www.makeyourdate.org or call 313-577-1000.

The Make Your Date campaign asks expectant mothers to do three simple things:

• Make a doctor's appointment to begin regular checkups.
• Work with their Make Your Date health care provider to develop a healthy mother, healthy baby plan, which includes everything from testing and treatment to nutrition and rest.
• Join group prenatal care or pregnancy education classes, where they can share questions, ideas and concerns, and learn more about their pregnancy.

In celebration of Prematurity Awareness Month, individuals and organizations are encouraged to further the mission and donate to this important program. Go to www.makeyourdate.org/donate/ to make a tax-deductible contribution.

"The Make Your Date program already has shown its effectiveness in getting women connected to help them carry their babies to full term. Every at-risk expectant mother should take advantage of the medical and peer support this wonderful program provides," Duggan said.

"Being born full term is critical to long-term health," said Sonia Hassan, M.D., associate dean for Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health for the Wayne State University School of Medicine and co-leader of the Make Your Date program. "Babies born preterm have a higher risk of breathing complications, cerebral palsy and difficulty in school. We want Detroit moms to know they can get the care they need, to give their babies the greatest chance at a healthy start."

In Detroit, 18 percent of babies are born prematurely, a rate nearly 6 percent higher than the state average. Studies show that low birth weight accounts for almost 50 percent of the city's infant mortality rate of 14 deaths in every 1,000 births, twice the national average.

Researchers at the Perinatology Research Branch of the of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, which is housed at Wayne State University and Hutzel Women's Hospital in the Detroit Medical Center, have made seminal discoveries in the prevention of preterm birth during the past 22 years.

"The prevention of preterm birth is a major priority for the PRB," said Roberto Romero, M.D., D.Med.Sci, chief of the branch. "We are committed to supporting the efforts to reduce preterm birth in the city of Detroit and abroad."

Learn how your business or organization can get involved to make a real difference to our mothers, families and neighborhoods. Inquire at info@makeyourdate.org. 

About Make Your Date
The mission of the Make Your Date campaign is to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce the rate of preterm birth. This strategy is executed through education, collaboration and partnerships with health care systems, universities and other established programs. For more information, visit www.makeyourdate.org or call 313-577-1000.

About Wayne State University School of Medicine
Founded in 1868, the Wayne State University School of Medicine is the largest single-campus medical school in the nation, with more than 1,000 medical students. In addition to undergraduate medical education, the school offers master's degree, doctoral and M.D.-Ph.D. programs in 14 areas of basic science to about 400 students annually. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter @wsu_med_school and Pinterest.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.