Preterm Labor & Birth

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG): 
A private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization comprised of the nation’s leading group of professionals
providing health care for women.            
www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp087.cfm

Babycenter: The leading destination on the Internet for new and expectant parents, dedicated to helping you find the information and support you need during pregnancy and in caring for a baby, toddler, or child.
www.babycenter.com/0_preterm-labor-and-birth_1055.bc

WebMD: Provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information, through credible and in-depth medical news, features, reference material, and online community programs.
www.webmd.com/baby/guide/premature-labor

National Institute of Child Health: Established by congress in 1962, conducts and supports research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations.
www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Preterm_Labor_and_Birth.cfm

March of Dimes: The leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health, dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. 
www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/prematurity.asp     www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_1080.asp

MedicineNet: An online, healthcare media publishing company. It provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers via its robust, user-friendly, interactive web site.
www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51736

Sidelines: A non-profit organization providing international support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies and premature births.  
www.sidelines.org

American Academy of Family Physicians:  AAFP is a national medical organization representing family physicians nationwide.  Its mission is to preserve and promote the science and art of family medicine and to ensure high-quality, cost-effective health care for patients of all ages. 
www.familydoctor.org

Medline Plus:  MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from the National Institute of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/highbloodpressureinpregnancy.html

March of Dimes (MOD): Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1206.asp

National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN): A group of individuals involved in birth defects surveillance, research, and prevention, created to establish and maintain a national network of state and population-based programs for birth defects surveillance and research.  The Network assesses the impact of birth defects upon children, families, and health care; identifies factors that can be used to develop primary prevention strategies; and assists families and their providers in secondary disabilities prevention.  
http://www.nbdpn.org/index.html

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD): Promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.   Our work includes identifying the causes of and preventing birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities: 
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
What is a Birth Defect article:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/faq1.htm#Whatisabirthdefect

American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG): The nation's leading group of professionals providing health care for women. ACOG works primarily in four areas:  Serving as a strong advocate for quality health care for women; Maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education for its members; Promoting patient education and stimulating patient understanding of and involvement in medical care; and Increasing awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women's health care.                                                                                                Birth Defects patient education brochure: http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp146.cfm

National Institute of Health (NIH) National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD): Conducts and supports research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations.  Some of these topics include:  Reducing infant deaths; Improving the health of women, men, and families; Understanding reproductive health and fertility/infertility; Learning about growth and development; Examining, preventing and treating problems of birth defects, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities; and Enhancing well-being of persons through the lifespan with optimal rehabilitation research.
Birth Defects information: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/birth_defects.cfm

Spina Bifida Association (SBA): Dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with spina bifida and those whose lives are touched by this challenging birth defect.  Its tools are education, advocacy, research, and service. 
http://www.sbaa.org

U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.
Decreasing the chance of Birth Defects article:
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/996_bd.html

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP): Promotes and maintains high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public. Improves the health of patients, families, and communities by serving the needs of members with professionalism and creativity.
Birth Defects information:
http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=family
doctor&lic=44&cat_id=140&article_set=20805&ps=104

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE): Groups interesting in promoting a series of environmental health legislation. A wide spectrum of groups and communities have organized the Environmental Health Legislative Working Group (EHLWG) and joined together to encourage legislators to support a variety of bills that support good health. These bills included, among others, measures limiting pesticides use in schools, more stringent regulation concerning the release of particulate matter, better restrictions on lead exposure, adequate funding for environmental regulation enforcement. 
Birth Defects and the Environment article:
http://www.protectingourhealth.org/newscience/birth
defects/2004-0501birthdefectspreview.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Online access to recommendations, research findings and helpful tips and health information for parents and providers on all child health topics. 
Information on birth defects
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/genetics.cfm

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
http://www.ndss.org.
About Down syndrome:
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content
&view=category&id=35&Itemid=57

American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG): A private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization comprised of the nation’s leading group of professionals providing health care for women. 
Patient Education brochure on Recurrent Miscarriage:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp100.cfm
Patient Education Brochure on Early Pregnancy Loss:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp090.cfm

American Pregnancy Assoc: A national health organization committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, research, advocacy, and community awareness.  Information on miscarriage:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/
miscarriage.html

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM): A multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the advancement of the art, science, and practice of reproductive medicine. Fact sheet on Recurrent Pregnancy Loss:  http://www.asrm.org/Patients/FactSheets/recurrent_preg_loss.pdf

Medscape Women’s Health 1998 May;3(3):2 (ISSN:1521-2076) Bick RL; Madden J; Heller KB; Toofanian A.  Recurrent Miscarriage: References for: Causes, evaluation and treatment. http://www.asklenore.info/miscarriage/bick/bickintro.html

eMedicine from Web MD:  eMedicine is an authoritative and accessible point of care medical reference available to physicians and other healthcare professionals on the Internet. 
Article on Early Pregnancy Loss:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/260495-overview

Your Total Health:  A service of NBC and iVillage, is the first and largest media company dedicated exclusively to connecting women at every stage of their lives. 
Information on Miscarriage: 
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/miscarriage.html

About.com: An online neighborhood of hundreds of helpful experts, eager to share their wealth of knowledge with visitors.
Article on Recurrent Miscarriage: http://miscarriage.about.com/od/twoormoremiscarriages/
p/recurmisccauses.htm

University of Chicago Medical Center Resource Center: 
Information on Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/obgyn/pregnancy-loss/faq.html

American College Obstetrics & Gynecology:  ACOG is the nation's leading group of professionals providing health care for women. Now based in Washington, DC, it is a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization.  ACOG works primarily in four areas:  Serving as a strong advocate for quality health care for women; Maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education for its members; Promoting patient education and stimulating patient understanding of and involvement in medical care; Increasing awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women's health care.  Endometriosis patient brochure: http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp013.cfm

The American Academy of Family Physicians:  The AAFP is one of the largest national medical organizations, representing more than 94,000 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students nationwide. 
Patient Brochure-Endometriosis: What You Should Know.  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060815/601ph.html
Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis. 
Anne L Mounsey,M.D.,et al. 
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060815/594.html

The Endometriosis Association:  The first organization in the world created for those with endometriosis. As an independent self-help organization of women with endometriosis, doctors, and others interested in the disease, it is a recognized authority in its field whose goal is to work toward finding a cure for the disease as well as providing education, support, and research.
Patient brochure:
http://www.endo-online.org/brochures/english.pdf

National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: The NICHD, established by congress in 1962, conducts and supports research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations.  Some of these topics include:  Reducing infant deaths;  improving the health of women, men, and families;  understanding reproductive health and fertility/infertility;  learning about growth and development;  examining, preventing and treating problems of birth defects, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities; and enhancing well-being of persons through the lifespan with optimal rehabilitation research. 
Endometriosis Patient brochure: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/
endometriosis/index.cfm
Endometriosis research at the NIH:
http://endometriosis.nichd.nih.gov/

National Women’s Health Information Center: The Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Vision is to ensure that "All Women and Girls are Healthier and Have a Better Sense of Well Being." Its mission is to "provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches." The strategy OWH uses to achieve its mission and vision is through the development of innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information. The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) is the most reliable and current information resource on women’s health today. We offer FREE women’s health information on more than 800 topics through our call center and web site.
Patient information:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/topics.cfm

American Society for Reproductive Medicine: The Vision of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is to be the nationally and internationally recognized leader for multidisciplinary information, education, advocacy and standards in the field of reproductive medicine. The ASRM is a non-profit organization whose members must demonstrate the high ethical principles of the medical profession, evince an interest in infertility, reproductive medicine and biology, and adhere to the objectives of the Society. 
Endometriosis patient booklet: http://www.asrm.org/Patients/patientbooklets/endometriosis.pdf
Endometriosis and Infertility Fact Sheet: http://www.asrm.org/Patients/FactSheets/
endometriosis_infertility.pdf

Mayo Clinic: Our mission is to empower people to manage their health. We accomplish this by providing useful and up-to-date information and tools that reflect the expertise and standard of excellence of Mayo Clinic.  A team of Web professionals and medical experts working side by side produces the web site. Through this unique collaboration, we give you access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers of Mayo Clinic.                     Patient information:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289

Medicine Net:  MedicineNet.com is an online, healthcare media publishing company. It provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers via its robust, user-friendly, interactive web site. Since 1996, MedicineNet.com has had a highly accomplished, uniquely experienced team of qualified executives in the fields of medicine, healthcare, Internet technology, and business to bring you the most comprehensive, sought after healthcare information anywhere. Nationally recognized, Doctor-Produced by a network of over 70 U.S. Board Certified Physicians, MedicineNet.com is the trusted source for online health and medical information.
Endometriosis information: 
http://www.medicinenet.com/endometriosis/article.htm

Juneau Biosciences: Dedicated to genetic discoveries that will revolutionize the approach to women’s health care. Our research is currently focused on developing diagnostic tools and therapies for endometriosis.
End to Endo Genetic Endometriosis Research Study: 
www.endtoendo.com

Additional web sites related to endometriosis research:
Endometriosis Research Center:
www.endocenter.org
Global Forum for Endometriosis: 
www.endometriosis.org
World Endometriosis Research Foundation: 
www.endometriosisfoundation.org