Today is September 30 and the last day of Infant Mortality Awareness Month. If you follow me on social media sites, you know I work in public health. It’s part of my daily responsibilities to inform the public (and media) about all things related to public health. Some days I discuss light topics such as encouraging people to get their flu shots but others are rather heavy like infant mortality. There’s absolutely nothing fun about babies dying in utero or before their first birthday. 

I am good at what I do. Yes, I said it, and it’s the honest truth. When it comes to medicine and public health, I just have a way of using my communications expertise to educate my community.

Of course, it isn’t always easy when you have your own personal story. It’s difficult to talk about babies dying when your own child was stillborn. I only publicly talk about my daughter a few times a year…usually on her birth/death date and Mother’s Day. Generally, I don’t speak about her vocally either only because it more often times than not leads to tears falling down my cheeks. I had a normal and rather healthy pregnancy until one day I became ill….very ill. Matter of fact the rest is really a blur.

For whatever reason, A’Layla (my daughter) was heavy on my spirit today and really this entire month. A part of me believes she was reminding me to keep pushing even through my own personal feelings because no other mother should have to endure the agony and pain I did. I constantly think back to 2006 and wonder what I could have or should have done differently. 

Infant mortality can occur for a variety of reasons…..from prematurity to babies not being in a safe sleep environment. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, be sure to take your daily dose of folic acid which helps prevent serious birth defects of the spinal cord (such as spina bifida) and the brain (such as anencephaly). Get plenty of physical activity before, during and even between pregnancies. Know the ABCs of Safe Sleep. Babies should always sleep ALONE, on their BACKS and in their own CRIB. 

What happened to me and my daughter was very much a freak occurrence that even the physicians couldn’t explain, but I will continue to use my situation as motivation to preach the same messages. We can reduce the infant mortality rates in our communities if we all work together. 

As always….these are just a few thoughts “From My Hart.”