The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Boston, Massachusetts Glows Purple in Honor of World Prematurity Day in Association with NIDCAP Federation International, Inc. on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

NIDCAP Federation International (NFI), a nonprofit organization based in Boston, is sponsoring the purple lighting to raise awareness for the prevalence of premature birth worldwide and the need for developmental and family care for preterm infants

BOSTON, MA, November 14, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On November 17, 2015, Boston-based NIDCAP Federation International, "Voice of the Newborn", will join the March of Dimes and the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants in the global movement to raise awareness of premature infants and the care they and their families receive in Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs) around the world. Illumination of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in purple light, the signature color of World Prematurity Day, will take place to enlighten the greater Boston community of the prevalence of premature births and the importance of supporting preterm infants' health and development as early as possible.

"The information and training we have to share is critically important for people around the world who care for preterm born infants." says NFI founder, Dr. Heidelise Als, Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School and Director of Neurobehavioral Infant and Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children's Hospital. "Our organization is comprised of multidisciplinary professionals and of 'preterm families', who are the best spokespersons for what we do, which is to assure the quality of lives of preterm infants and foster their long-term healthy brain and emotional development."

One in ten infants around the world is born prematurely or is an at-risk birth. This occurs across all nationalities, ethnicities and economic levels including women who have had access to regular obstetric care during pregnancy. This high rate of prematurity is a significant public health concern with associated costs exceeding $26 billion in the United States alone. Lighting the Zakim Bridge purple on November 17, 2015, World Prematurity Day, is intended to "illuminate" the public about critical infant birth facts. The stress of an unexpected early delivery on the infant, mother and family can be overwhelming. NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) emphasizes family hands-on involvement which reduces the enormous stress and pain inherent in Newborn Intensive Care.

"We want families, hospitals, medical and developmental professionals to know about the services and support NIDCAP provides", conveyed NIDCAP spokesperson, Gloria McAnulty, Ph.D. "NIDCAP fosters and builds on each infant's unique strengths. Our methods enhance and protect the infant's brain development while at the same time increase the parents' confidence and attachment to their fragile new baby." The research-documented benefits of the NIDCAP approach to care include shorter hospital stays, improved infant behavioral health and well-being and decreased morbidity.

NIDCAP is rapidly becoming the standard of newborn intensive care in the United States and many other countries including France, Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Argentina. There are currently 21 NFI-certified NIDCAP Training Centers and seven NFI-certified NIDCAP Nurseries worldwide. The NFI envisions a global society in which all hospitalized newborns and their families receive care and assessment in the evidence based NIDCAP model, which supports development, minimizes stress, is individualized and uses a relationship-based, family-integrated approach. The NFI, a nonprofit professional membership organization incorporated in Massachusetts, certifies NICU professionals and nurseries that distinguish themselves as exceptional providers of NIDCAP-based NICU care.

To learn more about the NIDCAP Federation International, how your intensive care nursery may benefit from the NIDCAP program, and how you can help further the NFI's mission, please visit www.nidcap.org.

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