Both in
Colorado and nationwide, one in eight babies is born prematurely."
"Every day at our hospitals we experience the devastating impact
prematurity has on babies and their families," said Jeff Selberg,
president and chief executive officer of Exempla Healthcare., There is a vast
difference in how women who have been pregnant cared for themselves during
their first trimester depending on whether their pregnancies were planned or
unplanned, according to the findings of a new study released by FIRST
RESPONSE (R) in conjunction with a new partnership with March of Dimes.
However, the survey also reveals that women who were not trying to
conceive when they became pregnant were less likely to have gotten regular
prenatal care or lessened alcohol intake during pregnancy.
According to Mary Jane Minkin, M.
The survey is one of the activities being undertaken as part of a new
partnership between FIRST RESPONSE and March of Dimes.

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Since 1981, the incidence of prematurity has
increased by 29%.S.Y.

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Endorsers of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign include the
national and Colorado branches of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , and the
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, plus the
Colorado Hospital Association.

National Survey Shows Planned Pregnancies May Also Be Healthier Pregnancies

58% of
those who tried and became pregnant) and caffeine (40%, vs. and a
clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of
Medicine, prenatal care during the first trimester, as well as cutting back or
eliminating alcohol altogether are critical basic steps to delivering a
healthy , full-term baby.
"Many crucial stages in a baby's development occur before a woman may
realize she is pregnant, even before she misses her first period," Dr. FIRST RESPONSE Early-Result Pregnancy Test is among the most
sensitive pregnancy tests and detects the pregnancy hormone hCG at
significantly lower levels than some other tests.marchofdimes.

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To achieve its mission,
the March of Dimes funds research, community services, education and
advocacy.J. Our pregnancy tests are one of the first to detect
the pregnancy hormone, which means women can find out if they are pregnant
sooner, and , therefore, start their prenatal care sooner.

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Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research,
community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003
launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For
more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at
http://www. Every year, nearly half a
million babies are born too early and, since 1981, the rate of premature birth
in the U. To sign up, visit
http://www.

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Currently in Colorado, the March of Dimes funds $1.com (English) and nacersano., a board-certified
obstetrician /gynecologist in private practice in New Haven, Conn.
FIRST RESPONSE products are distributed by Church + Dwight, Co.nacersano.

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and (for babies who
survive) a leading contributor to lifelong disabilities such as
blindness, cerebral palsy and mental retardation.3 million
in grants, plus operates its own healthy-baby programs.com or its Spanish Web site at
http://www.

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More than half the
time, the causes of prematurity are not known.6 billion per year. "We hope to develop programs
with Exempla that can be used as models elsewhere in the state.
The survey shows that the overwhelming majority of women who have been
pregnant -- 94 percent -- say they made healthy choices while they were
pregnant, including visiting their doctor regularly (88%) and taking prenatal
or multivitamins (87%), among others. Minkin
said."

Methodology for the State of Pregnancy in America 2005 Study
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the online survey on behalf of FIRST
RESPONSE in the United States between January 7 and 18, 2005 among 1,272 women
aged 18 - 44, of whom 723 have been pregnant. Figures for age, sex,
race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to
align with population proportions.S.

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Prematurity is defined as the birth of a baby three or more weeks
before its due date.
"We're delighted that the team from FIRST RESPONSE has joined forces with
the March of Dimes," said Robert Lucas, Vice President of Corporate Relations
for the March of Dimes. Now in its 35th year, WalkAmerica will bring people
together to walk for someone they love and to help prevent prematurity, the
leading cause of newborn death in this country. (http://www.

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65% of those who
tried and became pregnant) during pregnancy. "Together , we hope to reach millions of women with
vital information about how they can improve their chances of having a healthy
baby. By helping women determine
when these peak fertility days are, FIRST RESPONSE Easy-Read Ovulation Test
can help women get pregnant sooner.

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Over the life of the campaign , the March of Dimes will invest
$75 million nationwide in research and education to achieve these
goals. For
more information, please visit FIRST RESPONSE online at
http://www.harrisinteractive .com/), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester,
N .sabori@zenogroup.

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1% of those who
have tried and became pregnant) say they did not undertake any medical or
lifestyle changes to take care of themselves during pregnancy, such as
visiting the doctor regularly, taking prenatal vitamins, or cutting down on
stress.firstresponse.walkamerica.

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"We are very excited to work with Exempla Healthcare on this
important project and so pleased to name Exempla as our first
Prematurity Campaign sponsor," said Shelly Goodchild, state director
of the March of Dimes Colorado Chapter. Findings Announced in Conjunction With New Partnership Between
FIRST RESPONSE and March of Dimes

PRINCETON, N."
"There's a real synergy in our missions," agreed Craig Sheehan, FIRST
RESPONSE Senior Product Manager.
Ovulation tests are designed to predict the two most fertile days within a
woman's cycle, the time that women are most likely to conceive.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting
with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and
application.

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Prematurity has been identified both as the
number-one cause of newborn death in the U.

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For example , one-
fifth of women who became pregnant without trying (20% vs.

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"

Exempla Healthcare is a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare
system. It is sponsored by the LMC Community Foundation and the
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, and is dedicated to
fostering healing and health to the people and communities it serves.

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a nonprofit health
organization whose mission is to improve the health of babies by
preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Sampling error for the following
sub-sample results: women who have been pregnant (723), women who have tried
and become pregnant (510) and women who have not tried but become pregnant
(213) is higher and varies.hieurope.

Media Contact:
Lisa Sabori
312-396-9760
lisa.

prematurity inspires

As a National Sponsor
of WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes' largest annual fund-raising event, and a
sponsor of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, FIRST RESPONSE is
supporting March of Dimes' efforts to reach women of childbearing age about
the importance of pre-pregnancy and early prenatal care. "Our products were developed with women's
healthcare as the focus. Proper prenatal
care is the first step to having a healthy baby. Propensity score weighting was also used
to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based
research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research
to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.com), Paris-based
Novatris (http://www.

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"No
organization is focused on addressing prematurity on the scale that
the March of Dimes is, from basic-science research to connecting
one-on-one with pregnant women. Regarding alcohol and caffeine, women who became pregnant without
trying were also much less likely to have cut down on alcohol (48%, vs.

FIRST RESPONSE Products
For 20 years, FIRST RESPONSE has been helping women determine if they are
pregnant. Inc.org.

Sites that offer online archives and an email magazine that focus on issues related to parenting.

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S. Working together, we want to achieve
results for our patients and give every baby the chance for a healthy
start. In fact, it can be used
five days sooner than the day of the missed period.

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Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

DENVER----

Organization to Provide $50,000 Donation plus Assistance in
Educating Public about Prematurity

Exempla Healthcare has become the first Colorado sponsor of the
March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, it was announced today.org (Spanish). The
data are part of a national survey of women between the ages 18 and 44
designed to examine attitudes and behaviors regarding pregnancy in the United
States. This sample is not a probability sample.

prematurity heins

In
addition to a $50,000 donation, the organization, through its
hospitals, will help the March of Dimes educate pregnant women and the
general public about prematurity. More about the
March of Dimes, plus free infant and maternal health information, is
available at marchofdimes.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and
technology to advance market leadership through U.

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The hospitals managed
by Exempla Healthcare are Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center,
Exempla Lutheran Medical Center and Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital
(located in Lafayette, Wheat Ridge and Denver, respectively ).com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan,
through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide, a Reston, Virginia-based research
and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an
independent global network of affiliate market research companies.

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In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95
percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling
error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. has increased 29 percent.org or call 1-800-525 -WALK.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.com

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She added that other healthy measures can include
taking prenatal vitamins, reducing the use of caffeine and stopping smoking.com.

About The March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is
to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant
mortality.

WalkAmerica will be held in more than 1,100 communities across the country
during April and May. offices and wholly owned
subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (http://www .novatris.

prematurity puberty

Exempla Healthcare Becomes First Colorado Sponsor of March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign

This campaign is in alignment with
Exempla's focus on quality and patient safety.
The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is a five-year initiative
aimed at decreasing the number of premature births and raising
awareness of prematurity as a common and serious infant-health
problem. The national expense of
prematurity has been estimated to be $13.D. FIRST
RESPONSE Easy-Read Ovulation Test works by indicating when the LH level in a
woman's urine increases and triggers ovulation.