Lamaze International’s Post

The House has unanimously passed two pivotal health bills aimed at improving children's and maternal health: The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023: Spearheaded by Rep. Ashley Hinson and strongly supported by a bipartisan coalition, this act was passed with a resounding 408-3 vote. It allows the use of Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant funds for stillbirth prevention research, addressing the tragic reality of over 21,000 annual stillbirths in the U.S. March of Dimes and other key advocates have endorsed this critical legislation. The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Reauthorization Act of 2024: Introduced by Rep. Buddy Carter and supported by Reps. Kathy Castor, John Joyce, and Kim Schrier, this bill, passed 399-13, aims to reauthorize $24 million annually from 2025 to 2029. The EMSC program, the only federal initiative dedicated to pediatric emergency care since 1984, has significantly reduced pediatric injury-related deaths by more than 40%. These bills demonstrate a strong bipartisan commitment to safeguarding our children's health, ensuring they receive the specialized care they need during critical times. #ChildHealth #MaternalHealth #HealthLegislation #StillbirthPrevention #EmergencyCare #PediatricCare #BipartisanSupport #SaveLives #HealthcareReform #Act4Kids 👶💖 Let's celebrate these legislative victories that promise a healthier future for our children and mothers!

Thank you for bringing this to my feed Jacqueline Howard. The fact that 1 in 3 counties in the U.S. lacks obstetric care should be a wake-up call for everyone, yet somehow, the blame for poor outcomes continues to fall on the mothers who “don’t get prenatal care.” This narrative is harmful and completely misses the bigger issue: systemic failures in our healthcare system are leaving women with little to no access to the care they need. According to the report, 35% of U.S. counties are considered "maternity care deserts," meaning there is limited or zero access to maternity care. When a woman has to travel hours just to see a doctor—or can’t see one at all because of the lack of OB/GYNs—how can we blame her for not receiving adequate care? It's not a failure on her part. It's a failure of the healthcare system, worsened by layers of red tape and bureaucratic neglect. The shortage of 12,000 to 15,000 OB/GYNs by 2050 will only deepen the crisis. These numbers aren’t just statistics—they reflect real people who are denied the most basic healthcare during pregnancy. The truth is, it’s the system that is failing mothers, not the other way around. On Red Tape Kills, we’ll be tackling these issues head-on in our first season, which focuses on maternal health. We will expose how women—particularly in rural and marginalized communities—are left navigating impossible barriers and then blamed when the system fails them. Blaming mothers for not getting prenatal care is a convenient excuse that distracts from the real problem: lack of access. We need to shift the narrative and push for systemic change before more lives are put at risk. #RedTapeKills #MaternalHealth #HealthcareCrisis #MaternityCareDeserts #StopBlamingMothers #HealthcareAccess

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 The aim of the new rights are to allow parents dedicated time to spend with their baby while they are receiving medical care, without that eating into their maternity and paternity leave. The definition of neonatal care is yet to be specified but the general requirement is for the baby to receive seven days of medical or palliative care within the first 28 days of birth. The length of neonatal leave will be dependent on how long the baby spends in hospital, with parents entitled to up to 12 weeks of neonatal leave and a minimum entitlement of one week. #hrsupport #hrhappy #hrconsultant #newlegislation #neonatalcare #forwardplanning #family

How can we prevent mortality rates? Expand Access to Quality Healthcare: Ensuring that all women have access to comprehensive, high-quality prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care is essential. This includes extending Medicaid coverage to at least one year postpartum. Address Racial Disparities: Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality. Implementing targeted interventions to reduce these disparities, such as bias training for healthcare providers and community-based support programs, is critical. Invest in Community-Based Solutions: Supporting midwives, doulas, and community health workers who provide culturally competent care can improve outcomes for mothers and babies. Enhance Data Collection and Research: Better data on maternal health outcomes can help identify at-risk populations and effective interventions. Investing in research to understand the root causes of maternal mortality is crucial. Policy and Advocacy: Advocating for policies that support maternal health, such as paid family leave and affordable childcare, can help address some of the social determinants of health that contribute to maternal mortality. Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about the signs of maternal complications and the importance of seeking timely care can save lives. Educating both the public and healthcare providers is vital. Solving the maternal mortality crisis requires a multi-faceted approach and the commitment of all stakeholders, from policymakers to healthcare providers to communities. Together, we can create a safer, healthier future for all mothers. How do you think we can best tackle this issue? Share your thoughts… Kindness comes at no cost 🫶 #MaternalHealth #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #HealthcareReform #EndMaternalMortality

The United States is facing an ongoing maternity health crisis in which 1 in every 3 counties does not have a single obstetric clinician, affecting women’s access to care, according to a new report. The report, released by the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes, says that in many parts of the country, obstetrician/gynecologists and family physicians who deliver babies are leaving the workforce, which worsens access to care. Ob/gyns nationwide delivered more than 85% of babies born in 2022, according to the report, but the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now projects that the nation will face a shortage of 12,000 to 15,000 ob/gyns by 2050. Overall, more than 35% of US counties are considered “maternity care deserts,” which means there is limited or no access to maternity care there, according to March of Dimes. Here's the latest: https://lnkd.in/eYVrDFPf

Happy Mother's Day! 💐 Being a mother is the greatest gift, but having a baby isn’t always plain sailing. Births can bring challenges for both mother and baby - that’s why HIWM is involved in the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme, led by NHS England 🍼 The programme aims to: 👉 Reduce the rates of maternal and neonatal deaths, stillbirths, and brain injuries that occur during or soon after birth by 50% by 2025. 👉 Set out safer maternity care, reducing the national rate of preterm births from 8% to 6%. 👉 Reduce unwarranted variation in maternal and neonatal care, providing a high-quality healthcare experience for all women, babies, and families. Between 2022 and 2023, 65 Maternity and Neonatal optimisations were adopted by West Midland trusts ✅ Learn more about the programme here https://lnkd.in/eYmaY8F7 #MothersDay #Maternity #NeonatalSafety #MaternityCare #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcareIndustry

📣 We have now published the refreshed version of the Digital Maternity Record Standard to reflect improvements being made to maternity and perinatal care in line with the priorities outlined in NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services. It is designed to improve safety and effectiveness in maternity care by making sure health and care records are shareable across different IT systems and healthcare providers. The standard has been published as the final draft pending endorsement. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e3-kt55X #maternity #maternitycare #perinatal #prenatal #neonatal #digitalrecords #healthrecords

On July 16, 2024, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced proposed rules requiring healthcare professionals in New Jersey to undergo bias training. This initiative aims to address racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates and improve the quality of care for women of color. Key Points: - Mandatory Training: Physicians, nurses, and midwives providing perinatal care must complete training on implicit and explicit bias. - Comprehensive Topics: Training will cover unconscious biases, barriers to inclusion, effects of historical exclusion, cultural identity, effective communication, reproductive justice, power dynamics, and corrective measures. - Legislative Background: These rules implement P.L. 2021, c.079, signed by Governor Murphy to ensure equitable maternal and infant care. Public Comment Period: Stakeholders can submit comments until September 13, 2024 (for physicians, nurses, and midwives) and August 16, 2024 (for physician assistants). Governor Murphy emphasized the importance of this rule, stating, "Our Administration is committed to building on our ongoing efforts to protect the health of mothers and newborns in our State.” First Lady Tammy Murphy added, "The knowledge obtained through these trainings will help ensure members of an expecting mother’s care team approach their essential work without prejudice or bias.” Stay informed on healthcare regulations with Global Regulatory Insights! #Healthcare #BiasTraining #MaternalHealth #NJHealth #RegulatoryUpdate #ConsumerProtection #GRI

We’re delighted to share the launch of our new Neonatal Care Leave Policy here at Dorset Council 👶🍼 We understand the challenges families face when a baby requires neonatal care, so we’re here to support you every step of the way. Parents can now request Neonatal Care Leave if eligible and if their baby requires neonatal care after 1 April. Our policy offers: ✨ Up to 12 weeks of additional Neonatal Care Leave, at full pay, for parents with babies in neonatal care for 7 continuous days or more in their first 28 days of life ✨ Neonatal Care Leave for both parents if they both work with us ✨ Flexibility to take Neonatal Care Leave after maternity or adoption leave, and before or after paternity or shared parental leave (within 68 weeks of the baby’s birth) We're proud to be ahead of the curve, offering support for our colleagues and their families before it becomes a statutory requirement for all organisations 🌈 #NeonatalCare #FamilySupport #WorkForDorset #ParentalLeave #EmployerOfChoice

Giving birth? Look no further than the South Shore's only High Performing hospital for maternity care! Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only hospital on the South Shore of Long Island to earn the rating of High Performing for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report®, which means better outcomes for mothers and babies based on eight key measures including reduced C-section delivery rates, low overall unexpected newborn complication rates, routing birthing-friendly practices, and more! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eiUkFTZc. #HighPerforming #USNewsWorldReport #Maternity