Endometriosis Blog: H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act

**** UPDATE/EDITOR'S NOTE about October 3rd post: ****
Today (October 5, 2008) I just emailed my representative regarding the H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act. If you are interested in doing the same, here is the simplest process for doing so:

(1) Sample letters to help you with guidelines on what to write plus save you time are on this website First Candle: Stillbirth Legislation Needs Your Help.

BUT it’s suggested to PERSONALIZE the letter to increase the odds they’ll read it and heed it... For example, I wrote them on behalf of a friend who has had multiple miscarriages.

(2) You'll need your full zip code (all 9 digits). Here's where you can find it if you don't know it: Search for your full zip code here.

(3) Go to United States House of Representatives. Insert your zip in the zip code fields in top left corner of the screen. This will take you to your representative. Depending on if your representative's site is well-designed or not, you should eventually be able to find a spot on their site where you can email them. That's what I did.

(4) Try not to rely too heavily on the sample email you obtained in step one. Personalize your email where you can. It'll have more impact if you explain why you're writing (i.e. personal experiences, writing in support of loved one, relative, or friend).

(5) Submit your email. That's it. It's easier than it sounds. It took me less than 5 minutes to cover steps 1-5!

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October 15th will be a busy day.

In addition to being Blog Action Day for poverty, it will also be National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States.

Endometriosis patients are at an increased risk for miscarriage.

Last night, I came across the following link regarding National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day:

I Think I Hear Your Mother Calling: Tales From the Empty Homestead

The author of the above blog requested other bloggers take action as follows:

October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. More than 25,000 children are stillborn in the United States every year leaving mothers, entire families and communities devastated. Estimates of the rate of occurrence of stillbirth make it at least as common as autism.

Stillbirth is not an intractable problem. Greater research would likely significantly reduce it's incidence, but good research requires good data. H.R. 5979: Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act is under consideration by Congress. This proposed bill would standardize stillbirth investigation and diagnosis, thus providing more data for the needed research. Better research means fewer children born still.

On October 15th, remember the thousands of unfinished children lost and the families who remain to grieve them. Honor them by taking action. Let's help pass H.R. 5979.

Action Steps:

Step 1.

Use Your Blog to Enlist Others - Copy the contents of this entire post and publish it on your blog immediately.

GOAL: Enlist 10 of your readers to spread the word

Step 2.

Use Your E-mail to Enlist Others - Email 5 bloggers and ask them (nicely and in an unspammy way) to publish these action steps on their blog. Consider contacting celebrity bloggers, political bloggers, medical bloggers, or bloggers who are not part of your reading community.

GOAL: Enlist 3 bloggers outside of your normal blog sphere to spread the word in other online communities.

Step 3.

Help Pass the Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act - By October 15th, publish a post on your blog supporting H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act. For maximum impact, title your post: "Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act."

GOAL: 1,000,000 Google results on October 15th when that term is searched for. Currently, Google only returns 20,400 pages - most of which have nothing to do with the bill.

In reading about this legislation, I came across another link they may interest readers:

First Candle

Let's get the word out about National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day as we edge closer to October 15th. Thank you.

This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.