Date

Observances

January

Birth Defects Prevention Month
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Birth Defects Prevention Month (NBDPM) provide important information about preventing birth defects.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes and NBDPN.

January 2-8

National Folic Acid Awareness Week
Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy from multi-vitamin or fortified foods, folic acid can prevent from 50% up to 70% of some forms of serious birth defects of the brain and spine.  Visit the National Council on Folic Acid to learn more about why folic acid is so important.

February

International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
Approximately one in four pregnant women carry Group B strep (GBS), the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns according to the CDC.  GBS can also infect babies during pregnancy and the first few months of life.  To learn more about what you can do to prevent prenatal infection, please visit the Group B Strep International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month Campaign.

May 8-14

National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence sponsors National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week. For more information on preventing birth defects before and during pregnancy, visit Preventing Birth Defects During and Before Pregnancy.

July

International Group B Streptococcus Awareness Month
Group B streptococcus is the leading cause of meningitis and blood infection in newborns.  In regions where awareness and prevention efforts have been implemented, infant deaths from GBS have decreased as much as 70%.  To learn about GBS and help prevent its devastating effects, visit Group B Strep International.

September

Infant Mortality Awareness Month
During September, the National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) along with several organizations seek to promote the effectiveness of programs and efforts to reduce infant deaths, low-birth weight, pre-term births and disparities in perinatal outcomes by raising awareness about infant mortality in the U.S. Learn more about the Office of Minority Health's A Healthy Baby Begins with Two! - Minority Fathers Fight Infant Mortality Campaign.

October 15

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day is a day to promote awareness, education, and support for grieving parents and loved ones nationwide and worldwide. Visit Remembering Our Babies for support and educational resources.

November

Prematurity Awareness Month
The March of Dimes national Prematurity Campaign seeks to address the increasing rate of prematurity by raising awareness and funding more research to identify the causes of premature birth.