Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative’s Post

#PerinatalMentalHealth should be seen as a core element in improving maternal and newborn survival and well-being. A new opinion article in PLOS Global Public Health discusses the unmet mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their caregivers. "The perinatal period is a phase of life in which individuals have repeated contact with health care providers," write the authors. "Harnessing existing perinatal service delivery platforms to address women’s mental health needs, in addition to their physical health needs, is an imperative for individual and societal impact that countries cannot afford to miss." https://lnkd.in/eC77FzGN

Happy National Doula Week! The findings of this study emphasize the reduced chances of C-sections and postpartum anxiety or depression with doula support. Doula support has also been linked to positive perinatal experiences and improved maternal health outcomes. Improving maternal care can be achieved by increasing access to doula services, especially for high-risk pregnancies. Given the high risk faced by Black birthing persons, this is an urgent issue. #NationalDoulaWeek #DoulaSupport #PerinatalExperiences #MaternalHealthOutcomes #ImprovedMaternalCare #AccessToDoulas #HighRiskPregnancies #BlackMaternalHealth #UrgentActionNeeded #SupportingMothers #HealthEquityNow #DoulaCareBenefits #EmpoweringMothers #BirthingMagic

"Loneliness isn’t just a feeling. It’s a public health concern," U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Wednesday in Seattle. This concern is heightened in the postpartum period. Studies have shown that 40% of new mothers reported feeling lonely occasionally with 15% reported frequent loneliness and that loneliness was a significant predictor of postpartum depression symptoms. Murthy went on to say, "We need to rebuild these collective connections in modern social infrastructure." This is exactly what we are doing at The Heybrook. We know the importance of bringing people together in community and how critical it is during the stages of pregnancy, postpartum or early parenthood. This is why The Heybrook strives to be a sanctuary for parents-to-be and early parents to connect and find support. Take a minute to check in on a new parent in your life. It can make a world of difference!

Experts attribute the increase in premature births to maternal health complications, stress, delay of care and advanced maternal age. BenefitBump focuses on the addressable risk factors that influence poor outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, birth advocacy, etc. Our social workers identify and address key sources of prenatal stress and anxiety. We help moms craft birth plans, advocate for their birth journey, connect with birth doulas, prepare to breastfeed, and other clinical scenarios. Post-partum, we conduct postpartum depression screenings, help with lactation challenges, return-to-work planning, adjustment challenges, relationship issues, and other issues that negatively impact post-partum wellbeing. To learn more about how you can reduce premature births, check out the replay of our recent webinar on improving health outcomes: Improving Health Outcomes & Wellbeing for Moms in the Workplace Webinar — BenefitBump. #prematurebirths #healthoutcomes #healthequity #doula #benefits

Understanding Birth Trauma: A Journey Towards Healing What is Birth Trauma? Birth trauma can affect up to 45% of birthing individuals in the United States. It refers to the psychological and emotional distress experienced during or after childbirth. This trauma can manifest in various ways, as the experience is deeply personal and subjective. Everyone views their birth experience through their unique lens, making it crucial to recognize and validate each person's feelings. The Diverse Nature of Birth Trauma Birth trauma doesn't have a singular definition; it encompasses a range of experiences. For some, it may be linked to unexpected medical interventions or complications, while for others, it might stem from a perceived loss of control or unmet expectations during childbirth. The diversity of these experiences underscores the importance of individualized care and support. Empowering Birthing Individuals At Empower Perinatal, we believe in the power of giving birthing individuals a voice in their birth experiences. Empowering people to have meaningful, helpful, and impactful conversations with their birth team is essential. This communication ensures that their preferences, concerns, and values are respected and prioritized, which can significantly impact their overall experience and emotional well-being. Healing and Recovery Acknowledgment: It's important to recognize and validate the range of emotions that can arise from a traumatic birth experience. Professional Support: Seeking therapy, especially from professionals specializing in perinatal mental health, can be crucial. Self-Care: Engaging in activities that promote relaxation and well-being, such as mindfulness, gentle exercise, and journaling. Moving Forward with Empowerment Healing from birth trauma is a personal journey with no set timeline. It's essential to approach this journey with self-compassion and seek the necessary support. At Empower Perinatal, we are committed to helping birthing individuals navigate this journey, providing resources and support to empower them to make informed decisions and feel heard and respected in their birth experiences. For more information or to set up a meet and greet with Empower Perinatal, please visit our site at www.empowerperinatal.com #birthtrauma #perinatalmentalhealth #birthempowerment

“But until we acknowledge that the perinatal period poses unique challenges and opportunities—not yet fully understood as distinct from broader mental health programming—women will go largely unsupported.” "The vision is clear: whole-person, family-centered, context-responsive maternal health care that recognizes the fact that there is no health without mental health, and health systems that meaningfully address communities’ mental health needs while paying specific attention to the particular mental health challenges of the perinatal period. Realizing this vision will require a powerful transformation of 'business as usual'—an overturning of inefficient, gendered, and dysfunctional systems to center the health and well-being of millions of women and families for generations to come. The question now is whether we are ready to truly commit to this transformation.” Great to see two WomenLift Health alumnae, Rebecca (Becca) Levine & Laura Fitzgerald, in the byline of this PLOS Global Public Health Opinion piece. Mental health is especially important for pregnant and postpartum women, as maternal mortality rates continue to worsen around the world.   https://lnkd.in/gm2-x8x3

In the April Perinatal Mental Health & Well-Being issue, Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and coauthors explore COVID-19-related stressors experienced by Mexican-descent perinatal women and mothers of young children and related recommendations to address well-being. After conducting a series of qualitative interviews, the researchers identify themes in the areas of food access, mental health, and health and safety. They find that half of the women “mentioned difficulties accessing food due to income loss, loss of food subsidies…price gouging, consumer stockpiling, and food shortages”, and many described limited or delayed health care. The women in the study recommend increased food-related resources and the expansion of food subsidies like SNAP, increased provision of mental health resources, and affordable health care services. Read the full paper: https://bit.ly/4arWqGT

Motherhood brings immense physical, emotional, and psychological changes, yet society often overlooks these challenges. This article highlights the critical need for better maternal health support, improved U.S. maternal leave policies, and stronger communal networks to help mothers thrive. 🌟 Thank you, Sarah Abedi, for shedding light on the vital need for improved support in maternal health. Read more here >>> https://lnkd.in/ektpAY3q #MaternalHealth #PostpartumSupport #CommunityCare #MentalHealthMatters

Extreme heat poses significant risks to pregnant women, leading to complications like hypertension, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Protective measures include education on heat stress, promoting hydration, and adapting work routines. Urgent action and tailored interventions are essential to safeguard maternal and foetal health amid rising temperatures. #MaternalHealth #HeatStress #ClimateChange #PregnancySafety #PublicHealth https://lnkd.in/ejB_S-6h

Day 16 Challenge Trying to Conceive REACH HEALTHY WEIGHT Do you know your body mass index(BMI)? This can be calculated for you whenever you visit the hospital for a physical check-up If your BMI falls into the OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE categories Ask for strategies that can help you lose weight in a healthy manner But when the BMI falls into an UNDERWEIGHT category, You likewise need strategies to meet normal weight When the body is undernourished or overnourished Conception can be delayed or even prevented if care is not taken So, take your health serious! You can get your body mass index yourself By dividing your weight by the square of your height Your answer will be in KG/m. ......................................................... If this is the first time you are reading my post I am the cornerstone Nurse, devoted to assisting couples get pregnant without delays We have a conception and fertility community on WhatsApp You can join with the link below and invite others too https://lnkd.in/eXjsW9Nn #The Cornerstone Nurse #The Conception Consultant