Empire State Building Goes Purple To Raise Awareness About Premature Births

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Empire State Building was being lit in purple Monday night to raise awareness about the leading killer of children under the age of 5: prematurity.

As part of World Prematurity Day, moms and dads of premature babies were treated to massages, gifts, support and encouragement from so-called "ambassador families" with the March of Dimes, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported. The parents said they were grateful for the break.

Suzanne Kim's son, Parker, spent nearly a year in the neonatal intensive-care unit at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at New York-Presbyterian.

Listen to Empire State Building Goes Purple To Raise Awareness About Premature Births

"In the NICU, there's a lot of roller coasters up and down," she said. "So I wouldn't necessarily jump the gun and say, 'When will my child be discharged?' because a lot of times the doctors don't know either.

"My advice would be to take it one day at a time."

Kimberly and James Haggerty's 2-year-old daughter was born prematurely. Now, they have twin girls in the NICU.

"It really makes you realize life's other problems are so small," James said.

A woman makes a T-shirt at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. (credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

The March of Dimes' annual report card on premature birth gives the United States a "C."

New York received a "B" grade, said Dr. Iffath Hoskins, a high-risk pregnancy specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center.

"We've gone a full percentage point, if not more, in the right direction," Hoskins said.

She said doctors used to think it was OK to deliver babies at 37 weeks. "And now we know that even earlier than 39 weeks, even by a few days, can cause pretty significant medical problems in the baby," Hoskins said.

New medical guidelines have helped the March of Dimes make significant strides in the area.

But still, preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths, and infants who survive an early birth often face other health challenges throughout their lives, including breathing problems, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, according to the March of Dimes.

An estimated 15 million babies around the world are born too soon every year, including nearly half a million in the United States. For more information on World Prematurity Day visit www.facebook.com/worldprematurityday.

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