Table of Contents
STORIES
Chapter I. 'No right decision'
In a blink, a baby’s fate changes
High costs follow rise in preterm births
Not just the smallest are at risk
Chapter II. Not an ordinary baby: Teagan's story
January 2008: Coming home is just the first step.
February 2008: 'But will she catch up?'
December 2008: Learning the basics.
Chapter III. An unsolved puzzle
Homeless, black and poor:
From statistic to success
Why the high rate of preterm births among African-Americans?
Group preterm care mixes camaraderie, education to help moms go the distance
Chapter IV. Tender skills
A nurse in the eye of a 'tornado'
In future NICU, quiet and privacy will prevail
Major advances in care of preemies
Chapter V. Lasting Effects
Twins show the faces of life after intensive-care nursery
In her own words, a mother's tale of life after her children's premature birth
By adulthood, many have beaten long odds and are thriving
MULTIMEDIA
Quiz: Are you at risk? Factors that contribute to premature birth
Every day matters: Development inside and outside the womb.
Teagan, Inc.: the people and devices keeping baby Teagan healthy
Intensive care for the tiniest babies, a narrated illustration
Rewarded with smiles, an audio slideshow
Stories of Survival, an interactive collection of vignettes
• NICU reunion
• Teagan’s first year: 16 weeks premature | The parade of doctors | Daddy time
• Yvonne Freeman
• Care amid clamor
• 'This is a way to help'
• 'We're both red-haired twins'
• Rewarded with smiles
SURVEYS
• An early birth has a long aftermath. In ways obvious or subtle, shocking or imperceptible, preemies are different –– perhaps for a lifetime. Do you know someone who was born early? How is he or she doing?
• Share your experience with premature birth
• Parents who have faced uncertainty: What advice was helpful?
• Do you have a teenager who was born prematurely? Have you found that adolescence poses new problems?
• Parents of preemies: What do you think of plans for the new NICU?
CHARTS
Preterm births in R.I.
Preterm births by maternal age in R.I. and U.S.
Preterm births by race in R.I. and U.S.
Regional variations in preterm births: U.S., New England and R.I.
Preterm births among multiple deliveries in the U.S. and R.I.
C-sections in premature births by gestational age
Cesarean section rates in premature births by mother’s age
C-section rates by maternal age, full-term and preterm
© 2009, Published by The Providence Journal Co., 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902