MATERNAL HEALTH Voices for Change

The United States faces a pressing issue regarding the health of mothers and infants, evident from the increasing rates of maternal mortality and persistent challenges like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The United States faces a pressing issue regarding the health of mothers and infants, evident from the increasing rates of maternal mortality and persistent challenges like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Maternal health is a mounting crisis in the United States

In 2021, 1,205 women died of maternal causes in the United States compared with 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019 (2) The maternal mortality rate for 2021 was 32 9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019.

The United States faces numerous challenges in maternal health, including high-risk pregnancies, barriers to adequate care, gaps in the continuum of prenatal to postnatal care, and significant disparities in mortality and morbidity rates among certain populations. These challenges are further exacerbated by limited resources and a fragmented approach to maternity care, leaving vulnerable patient populations at even greater risk. However, recent advancements in technology and telehealth protocols offer transformative potential for traditional maternity care. By effectively integrating virtual care, immediate attention can be directed towards addressing the key factors identified by the CDC that contribute to maternal deaths, including clinician, facility, and systemic issues such as inadequate training, delayed or missed diagnosis of complications, lack of maternal education, communication gaps, and insufficient coordination among healthcare providers.

Despite significant progress in medical understanding and preventive measures, there remains a considerable amount of work to be accomplished Linda Robinson MSN, RN, CPXP, Vice President of Clinical Excellence at MDM Healthcare recently conducted a series of expert interviews who are shaking the foundations in the world of maternal- child care. This article sheds light on the perspectives of Dr. Braidi Huecker and Dr. Cindy M. Barter, both actively engaged in tackling the multifaceted challenges related to maternal health. Furthermore, we will delve into the impactful initiatives of Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project (MAP) as they strive for equitable outcomes in maternal healthcare.

Dr. Braidi Huecker, MD, OB-GYN, is a dedicated champion of maternal empowerment, with a strong commitment to providing education about the childbirth process to expectant and new mothers. She shared insights on a variety of topics, including challenging stereotypes, birth positivity, and the importance of postpartum care they should be, and what the background is going to look like I think that puts a lot of pressure on the mother and the partner, ” she said

She explained that she believes there should be a birth positivity movement, similar to the recent body positivity movement in American culture

“We’re not all the same Not all women are the same, so why can’t we have birth positivity? Why can’t we celebrate birth differences? We should be celebrating how wonderful it is that we have experienced the birth of our child ”

Dr Huecker expressed the importance of challenging childbirth and pregnancy stereotypes because they only add pressure on new mothers. “

Patients come in and they have this plan, and birth plans are fantastic, but if something doesn’t go according to your birth plan, it’s important to remember that babies don’t read the textbook and that your birth story is unique. It’s a beautiful, wonderful moment and your baby is born however he or she needed to, ” she said.

Dr. Huecker also provides advice for new mothers who may be struggling with breastfeeding. She explained that unhealthy stereotypes exist about breastfeeding that put unnecessary pressure on new mothers.

She emphasized that mothers should do the best they can to breastfeed as it is healthy for the baby, but not beat themselves up if they have trouble with it.

“Everybody is different, and every breast is different, so you don’t know until you try it, ” she said.

In addition to breastfeeding, another challenge mothers face when returning home after birth is the possibility of having postpartum depression. She discussed the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and the available resources to support mothers who are struggling.

“Postpartum depression is a huge risk and can lead to maternal suicide. One out of seven patients have postpartum depression, ” she said. Dr. Huecker explained how important it is for new mothers to ask for help, communicate their feelings, and practice self-care.

“Moms need breaks. They have their baby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s okay for mothers to let a trusted person watch the baby for a few hours and go take some time for themselves It’s not selfish, it’s important, ” she said

Another topic she discussed was the prevention of injury to the baby due to conditions such as SIDS or Shaken Baby Syndrome Dr Huecker learned the importance of safe sleep firsthand before she ever started medical school when her newborn brother had a SIDS scare She also explained some key things to remember when it comes to preventing an accidental incident of shaken baby syndrome

We know now based on research that laying a baby on his or her back is the best way for them to sleep and that the baby sleeps alone, ” she said

Preventable actions can be taken to educate parents and caregivers about SIDS and shaken baby syndrome Education from the right sources at the right time is a powerful preventative tool

Proper education from the right source can help set up new parents for success in dealing with childbirth issues discussed by Dr Huecker such as safe sleep, post-birth warning signs, and breastfeeding.

Cindy M. Barter, MD, a family practitioner at Hunterdon Health in Lambertville, NJ, is passionate about health equity, especially as it relates to maternal child health. She spoke about addressing barriers to maternal healthcare.

“I had been a family care doctor who delivers babies for a long time. When I started at Hunterdon, I found out that there was a group of women who didn’t start prenatal care until much later in their pregnancy. It happened to be a large Latino community and I started to think, ‘What are the barriers why are they not starting care?’”

Dr. Barter explained that she heard that the causes included large copays, lack of a translator, transportation and daycare issues Barter started looking at ways to solve the problem

“A lot of healthcare providers think addressing the social determinants of health isn’t their job, that it’s someone else’s job I wanted to start to look at ways to think outside the box and think about it differently, ” she said

Barter received a grant to provide pregnant women prenatal care without a copay, transportation for that care, and childcare during prenatal care visits. They also did the entire visit in English and Spanish so there wasn’t a language barrier.

“In a very short period of time, after we started the Latina women started prenatal care by about 50 percent during the first trimester. We know early access to prenatal care improves outcomes, ” she said.

Barter also added that within a year of starting the program, the rate of women receiving early prenatal care jumped to 85 percent. “If you take away the barriers, that often helps improve care, ” said Barter. Dr. Barter continued to explain that her mission has been to apply this solution system-wide to start addressing maternal health equity.

“If you look at maternal mortality rates in the United States compared with most industrialized countries, we’re not doing so well My state of New Jersey is ranked 47th, ” she said Barter also expressed that group visits are another way to make a positive impact

“The power of the group really does make an impact it’s amazing in many different healthcare settings, ” said Barter

In the realm of maternal health, there are countless organizations working tirelessly to improve the lives of mothers and babies around the world, such as Dr Shalon's Maternal Action Project (MAP) This organization is dedicated to addressing the complex issues surrounding maternal health disparities and advocating for better outcomes for women of color The organization’s co-founder, Wanda Irving, shared the heartbreaking account of her daughter's tragic loss, which was the impetus for starting Dr Shalon's MAP, on a recent PX Space podcast interview with host Linda Robinson, MSN, RN, CPXP

Dr Shalon Irving, an esteemed epidemiologist for the CDC and lieutenant commander in the U S Public Health Service, passed away in 2017 due to complications following childbirth

Dr Shalon's Maternal Action Project envisions a world where every woman, regardless of her race or socioeconomic status, has access to high-quality maternal healthcare and experiences positive birth outcomes They strive to eliminate the disparities in maternal health outcomes that disproportionately affect women of color

Driven by the belief that every woman's life is valuable and deserving of excellent care, the organization works towards raising awareness, advocating for policy changes, and supporting initiatives that promote equitable maternal healthcare One of the primary goals of Dr Shalon's MAP is to confront the alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes Studies have shown that black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated complications compared to white women Dr Shalon's MAP tackles this issue head-on by actively engaging in research, education, and policy advocacy to shed light on the root causes of these disparities and promote equitable solutions.

Dr. Shalon's MAP believes that knowledge is power. Through educational initiatives, they equip women, families, and healthcare providers with the information and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of maternal health.

Their educational programs raise awareness about common pregnancy-related complications, provide guidance on improving prenatal care, and empower women to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their babies

Additionally, Dr Shalon's MAP advocates for policy changes that promote equitable access to healthcare services, support culturally sensitive care, and address social determinants of health Recognizing the importance of community support, Dr Shalon's MAP actively engages with local communities to foster dialogue, share resources, and provide a network of support for mothers and families They collaborate with community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to create sustainable change and improve maternal health outcomes at the grassroots level By mobilizing communities, they aim to create a collective voice that demands and drives positive transformations in maternal healthcare Since establishing their non-profit in 2019, Irving has testified before Congress to advocate for legislative measures addressing the maternal crisis

In addition, the organization recognized the fact that technology has the power to transform health initiatives, and in this spirit, Dr Shalon's MAP has recently joined forces with Microsoft to develop an app called "Believe Her " This app serves as a secure space where mothers and their loved ones can connect with a peer support network, fostering a supportive community environment

The Power of Technology to Transform Care Delivery Models

As revealed by the partnership with Microsoft and Dr Shalon's MAP, technology can revolutionize healthcare change the way we deliver healthcare, improve its overall quality, and make it more accessible That philosophy is at the core of our cuttingedge, cloud-based patient experience platform, Journey PX, which elevates patient engagement throughout the continuum of care

Dr Cindy Barter’s work at Hunterdon Hospital includes a partnership with Journey PX, which provides patient engagement solutions to their patients Dr Barter has seen firsthand the positive impact of the maternal health education Journey PX provides to their patients, including Spanish-speaking patients Journey PX also allows the education to be texted and emailed to patients after discharge so they can continue to access the vital health education they need

"I know there are many patients who have said they watched them and learned from them My goal is to make more patients aware of their Journey PX solutions early on so they can utilize them I think it is a great solution, ” she said As mentioned by Dr Braidi Huecker, a vital aspect of pre and postnatal care is the provision of comprehensive health education, covering important topics such as breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, and recognizing post-birth warning signs Additionally, new mothers, infants, and families have unique needs during their hospital stay, and it is crucial to have a

Journey PX has recently developed an innovative solution called Journey PX Mother Baby, which is tailored specifically for mother-baby units The platform delivers vital health education to patients’ hospital rooms via their television set Additionally, it allows an option for health education videos to be sent to the parents via email or text so they can continue to refer to them when they are at home Journey PX Mother Baby also prepares parents and newborns for discharge and enhances the overall patient experience By addressing the distinctive needs of this environment, Journey PX Mother Baby plays a significant role in promoting the well-being of both mothers and infants, facilitating a smooth transition into parenthood Additionally, Mother Baby is quick and easy to deploy and can be up and running in less than six weeks It is also priced for individual units, with flexible payment options

MDM Healthcare and Journey PX are proud to partner with health advocates to continuously seek and provide more innovative care delivery models To find out more about what Journey PX, and Journey PX Mother Baby can do for your healthcare organization schedule a free demo

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