Tiffany Pitts

💜 A Personal Reason to March for Moms and Babies 💜

My youngest son was born three months early. It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life — for me, his dad, and our families. We didn’t know what the future would hold, and every day in the NICU felt like a lifetime.

The March of Dimes stands beside families like mine, offering critical support when it’s needed most. Their work helps:

• Fund life-saving research to prevent premature birth and birth defects.
• Provide education and resources for parents before, during, and after pregnancy.
• Advocate for better maternal health policies and equitable care for all moms and babies.

📊 Key Statistics

• In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was about 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women (26.6 per 100,000). (CDC)
• In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 19.0 for White women. (CDC)
• For preterm births (before 37 weeks gestation) in 2022: Black women had a rate of 14.6%, compared with 9.4% for White women and 10.1% for Hispanic women. (CDC)
• Preterm birth rates among Black mothers are about 50% higher than among White mothers. (PMC, CDC)

💠 Why This Matters

These disparities mean that Black mothers and their babies face significantly higher risks of:

• maternal death
• premature birth (with health and developmental challenges)
• infant death

Given my personal story — my son being born three months early — I understand how critical it is to support families during these moments.

Today, my son is in his 30s — healthy, thriving, and raising a son of his own. 💙 His life is a reminder that hope, science, and compassion can create miracles.

Thanks to donations like yours, we can continue to make a difference. Together, we’ll be part of a movement to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy, strong, and supported.