Maternal and Child Health Resource Repository

In this podcast featuring maternal and child health efforts, we are speaking with care team members from Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas as they discuss the importance of a growing OB unit, and share impact of Kearny County’s Pioneer Baby program.

As part of an effort to combat pregnancy-related complications and deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hear Her campaign acknowledges that women know their own bodies better than anyone and can often tell when something does not feel right.

The gift of a new life shouldn’t come at the expense of an existing one. Yet every year, more than 700 women die from pregnancy- and delivery-related complications. Another 50,000 women suffer severe health problems related to pregnancy. And, these complications are disproportionately affecting Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

In this podcast, we have Priya Bathija, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at the AHA and Dr. Jonathan Weeks, a maternal-fetal medicine physician and the medical director of the MOST Program at Norton Healthcare. Joining them is Charlotte Ipsan, Chief Administrative Officer, Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

Approximately one-quarter of healthy women with low-risk pregnancies still undergo C-sections despite the potential risks to mothers and babies. To avoid unnecessary C-sections, hospitals are making strides in recognizing risk factors for mothers and babies sooner.

In this Members in Action podcast featuring maternal and child health efforts, we are speaking with Dr. Stephen Lockhart, founding director emeritus, Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity. Dr. Lockhart will discuss Sutter Health’s commitment to improving outcomes by reducing the number of first-birth C-section rates through its Pregnancy & Childbirth Services, in addition to engaging mothers and their families through the process.

The Department of Health and Human Services amended the declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to authorize state-licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns under their supervision to order and administer vaccines to children, subject to certain requirements.

In this Members in Action podcast featuring maternal and child health efforts, Aisha Syeda, Program Manager at the American Hospital Association is speaking with Mary Schwaegerl, an Obstetrics Director and Julia Yoder, a Marketing & Public Relations Director at Brookings Health System, as they share the impact of their volunteer doula program at Brookings's New Beginnings Birth Center.

Researchers have developed an expanded system for classifying serious maternal complications during hospitalization for childbirth, which can be used to compare severe maternal morbidity rates across hospitals and other patient populations, according to a study reported in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week launched Hear Her, a new campaign to raise awareness of pregnancy-related complications, risks and death.

In this Spotlight Feature interview, Jean Ricci Goodman, M.D., and Aparna Sharma, M.D., discuss the program’s development and how it’s designed to improve maternal and child health in Loyola’s surrounding communities.

Maternal mortality rates are significantly higher in rural areas as women face barriers in accessing prenatal, obstetrical and postpartum care. In this virtual workshop, learn about the unique challenges encountered in rural communities from U of MN Rural Health Research Center. Additionally, hear how Lexington Regional Health Center, a rural hospital in NE, is increasing access to optimal maternal care in rural communities.

Leaders of the Black Maternal Health Caucus virtually convened the second annual Stakeholder Summit, where members of Congress and supporting organizations urged passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 6142/S. 3424) to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus to address one of the most urgent crises in the United States today. In this podcast, Priscilla Ross, senior associate director for federal relations, speaks with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, co-chair of the Caucus, about their mission to elevate the Black maternal health crisis within Congress and advancing policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end disparities.

The causes of maternal mortality and morbidity are complex, including lack of consistent access to comprehensive care and persistent racial disparities in health and health care.

AHA issued a refresh of its COVID-19 resource on ways hospitals and health systems are caring for mothers and babies during the pandemic.

Actionable data is a key component of any successful initiative. In this virtual workshop, experts share best practices for collecting, evaluating and transforming data into action. Learn how hospitals are improving outcomes for maternal and child health through innovative, data-driven solutions, while reducing variation in care delivery.

While the COVID-19 pandemic placed a pause on routine medical visits and non-emergency procedures, people are still giving birth and in need of support from hospitals and health systems.