News Seton Marches for Healthy Babies

AUSTIN, Texas - (May 4, 2011) - Seton Family of Hospitals, a nationally recognized perinatal safety leader, has stepped up its commitment to the healthy baby cause by strengthening its partnership with the March of Dimes.

Seton and the March of Dimes-a non-profit organization that aims to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality- formalized its partnership in 2005 with the establishment of the NICU Family Support Program within designated Seton neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This year, Seton expanded its relationship by becoming a key sponsor of the March of Dimes 2011 March for Babies walk taking place May 7 on Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas.

Seton has raised nearly $100,000 for the March of Dimes over the last decade through donations, bakes sales, raffles and other fundraising projects.

"The partnership makes sense because we share similar missions," said Dr Todd Scharnberg, Seton Medical Center Austin neonatologist. "Complementary programs like the March of Dimes NICU Family Support enhance the high quality and advanced care offered by the Seton NICU medical staff."

Austin is the only city in the nation that has the NICU Family Support Program at three hospital sites, all of which are part of the Seton network: Seton Medical Center Austin, University Medical Center Brackenridge and Dell Children's Medical Center.

"We are appreciative of Seton's dedication to promote healthy babies, and are pleased to partner with them to provide this special support service to Seton's NICU families," said Dr. Marcel Thompson, March of Dimes program service committee chair.

In Texas, more than 13 percent of babies are born pre-term which equates to more than 53,000 babies per year. Pre-term babies generally require extra attention by specially trained nurses and neonatologists.

The March of Dimes program at Seton offers comfort and support services for families with a baby in the NICU such as sibling activities, physician speaker sessions, parent hours, and other events to help families cope through what is often a stressful and anxiety filled process.

"Seton's NICU medical staff and the March of Dimes family support helped me and my husband get through the difficult time," said, Stacie Barnes, mother of twins born under two-pounds and cared for in the Seton Austin NICU. "The activities like scrapbooking gave me the freedom to be like a normal mom. And, today, our NICU nurse is part of the family."