Hospital honored as part of the “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait”
campaign.
(Reno, Nev.) - Saint Mary’s Health Network has been recognized by March of Dimes
for giving babies a healthier start at life by reducing the number of
elective inductions and cesarean deliveries (EED) performed before 39
completed weeks of pregnancy. Saint Mary’s is the only hospital
in northern Nevada to earn this distinction. A special recognition banner
is now displayed at the regional medical center, commending hospital physicians
and nurses for the achievement.
Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization
and illness than full-term infants, according to March of Dimes. Although
the overall threat is small, the risk of death more than doubles for infants
born at 37 weeks of pregnancy when compared to babies born at 40 weeks,
for all races and ethnicities. Babies who survive an early birth often
face lifelong health challenges such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy,
and learning disabilities.
“We’re proud of our expert team of physicians and nurses who
put these policies in place to avoid scheduling C-sections or inductions
before 39 weeks of pregnancy, except when medically necessary,”
said Katie Grimm, CNO of Saint Mary’s Health Network. “We
look forward to continuing our efforts to promote healthier life and birth
outcomes for mothers and babies throughout northern Nevada.”
“The last weeks of pregnancy are important. Babies aren’t just
putting on weight. They are undergoing important development of the brain,
lungs and other vital organs,” says Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, PhD,
March of Dimes Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “We
commend Saint Mary’s for being a champion for babies with their
quality improvement effort.”
March of Dimes has been getting out the word that “Healthy Babies
are Worth the Wait.” This campaign urges women to wait for labor
to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling
delivery before 39 weeks. As part of the campaign, March of Dimes offers
both professional and consumer education materials about the critical
importance of a full-term pregnancy to the health and well-being of babies.
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About Saint Mary’s Health Network: Saint Mary’s based in Reno, Nev. is a 380-bed acute care hospital
offering inpatient, outpatient and wellness services. Nationally recognized
and accredited by the Joint Commission, Saint Mary’s offers a robust
line of services including a top-rated Center for Cancer featuring the
region’s only CyberKnife radiosurgery delivery system, state-of-the-art
William N. Pennington Emergency Room and Senior ER and a Cardiology program
dedicated to long-term wellness. The health system also operates a fully-integrated
Medical Group and a state-of-the-art Center for Health & Fitness.
As a long-standing community partner, Saint Mary’s is dedicated
to ensuring the health and wellness of northern Nevada remains strong.
For more information, visit
www.SaintMarysReno.com
About March of Dimes: Each year nearly 4,000,000 babies are born in the United States and March
of Dimes touches each one of them through research, education, support,
and advocacy. March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for
pregnancy and baby health. March of Dimes works to improve the health
of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Find out how you can help prevent premature birth and birth defects by visiting
marchofdimes.org or
nacersano.org.