March of Dimes’ Post

Hot off the press: March of Dimes's 2024 Maternity Care Desert report (last published in 2022.) Important findings: - Over 35% of US counties are MCD's - Over HALF of counties in the US do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care (WHAT?! This is unacceptable) - Nearly 70% of birth centers are located within just 10 states (meaning birth centers are not accessible for all people) - On average, birthing women in the US travel 16 minutes by car to their nearest birthing hospital without traffic. Driving time increases to 26 and 38 minutes, on average, for rural and maternity care desert residents, respectively. It's unacceptable that the healthcare system has failed women and families in this way. The accelerating closure of hospital systems around the U.S. should be top of mind for everyone.

Aleeshia Huguley has a high-risk pregnancy in a county with limited maternity care access. She and her husband, Serkeith, worry about being far from the only birthing hospital in their area, which serves four counties. Their story highlights the broader issue of maternity care deserts in America. For millions of U.S. families, a healthy pregnancy depends on where they live. The March of Dimes' 2024 report, Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US, shows that accessing quality maternity care is increasingly difficult, worsening the maternal and infant health crisis. Learn more and take action: https://lnkd.in/eem3QY-J

Where you live shouldn’t determine the health of your pregnancy, but for millions of families across the US, it does. March of Dimes' latest maternity care deserts report: Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US (2024) highlights that too many communities are facing worsening access to essential maternity care, leading to dangerous outcomes for moms and babies. Our Founder and March of Dimes’ Board of Trustee member, Dr. Ellen Stang believes it is essential to make maternal care a priority. ProgenyHealth is proud to stand with March of Dimes in advocating for improved access to care, better policies, and health equity. Learn more about the state of maternity care in the US and the proposed solutions here: https://hubs.ly/Q02PjkSr0 #MaternityCareDeserts #HealthEquity

Today (19 September) the Care Quality Commission has published its National review of maternity services, focusing on care in maternity units from 2022-24. The report reveals that many women and babies are still not getting the high standard of care they deserve and issues are widespread in units across England. The report states that of the 131 locations inspected between August 2022 and December 2023, almost half were rated as ‘requires improvement’ (36%) or inadequate (12%). Only 4% of services were rated as outstanding and 48% were rated as good. We understand this is concerning for our community due to the high-risk nature of multiple pregnancies. We want to ensure that families expecting twins, triplets or more get the highest possible level of maternity care; we'll continue to campaign for this. Our Maternity Engagement Project aims to ensure that women receive the right level of care for their type of pregnancy, in line with NICE guidelines. Expectants and their families deserve safe, quality care and we will continue to keep advocating for our multiples’ community. We call on the Government to take notice of today’s report and take action by investing in maternity services so that care is improved for all families. To read the full report, go to: https://buff.ly/4dcOREJ

March of Dimes' new Maternity Care Deserts Report is out. Here are some highlights. One thing to keep in mind ----> if it's a maternity care desert, it's a newborn care desert (and very likely a pediatric care desert). Let's fix this. - 35% of US counties are maternity care deserts. - More than 150,000 babies were born to birthing people living in maternity care deserts. An additional 200,000 babies were born in counties with limited maternity care access. - Living in a maternity care desert is associated with a 13% increased risk of preterm birth. - Over half of counties in the US do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care. - Nearly 70% of birth centers are located within just 10 states. es (CNMs). - On average, birthing women in the US travel 3-5X farther on average, for rural and maternity care desert residents.   https://lnkd.in/g9f8eSH4

Day 2 of World Breastfeeding Week: Advocating for Maternity Leave Policies📅 Headline: Strengthening Maternity Leave Policies for Better Breastfeeding Support Today, we spotlight the importance of robust maternity leave policies. Adequate leave is crucial for mothers to recover, bond, and establish breastfeeding routines. 🌸 Why It Matters: Longer maternity leave is linked to higher breastfeeding rates, benefiting both mothers and infants. 👶 Employer’s Role: Implementing family-friendly policies like flexible hours and lactation breaks is essential. 🏢 Government Action: Enacting and enforcing paid maternity leave ensures all mothers can afford to breastfeed, regardless of their economic situation. 🌐 As we advocate for stronger maternity leave policies, we work towards ensuring every child gets the healthiest start in life through breastfeeding. 🤱✨ Let's support breastfeeding mothers and create a nurturing environment for all!

Where you live matters when it comes to the options available for maternity care. Maternity care deserts are counties where there is no access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers. The March of Dimes latest report "Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US" reveals that over 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts. It's shocking to learn that over half of US counties do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care, and nearly 70% of birth centers are located within just ten states. These findings affirm that US systems, policies, and environments are failing moms and babies. We encourage you to read the report and learn how you may be impacted in your community https://lnkd.in/eUzfjmGV #maternity #maternalhealth #womenshealth #maternitydeserts #maternalhealthequity #valuebasedmaternitycare

This morning, March of Dimes released an urgent new report on access to maternity care in the U.S. entitled Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US. This report provides a deep look at access to maternity care throughout the country.   Where you live matters when it comes to the options available for maternity care. Maternity care deserts are counties where there is no access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers. Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US reveals that over 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts. This means that in 1,104 counties, there is not a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician.   Our report includes detailed statistics, analysis, and policy recommendations. Click below to view the report and read more. https://lnkd.in/eTh9BGzs

March of Dimes today released "Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US," highlighting the worsening state of maternity care affecting countless communities. The report shows where you live impacts your ability to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Over 35% of US counties are considered maternity care deserts - 1,104 US counties where there is not a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician, leaving millions of women without access to the care they need for a healthy pregnancy. At March of Dimes, we’re pushing for solutions like equitable Medicaid reimbursement, increased support for midwifery, expansion of mobile health care, and expanded telehealth services to help bridge the gap in care. We can improve outcomes for all moms and babies—starting now. It's time to raise our voices and push for immediate action to address these gaps and ensure that every mother and baby has access to the care they need. Let’s advocate for change and work towards a future where no one is left behind. https://lnkd.in/eTh9BGzs #MaternityCare #HealthcareCrisis #SupportMoms #EquityInHealthcare

Women’s experiences of different models of maternity care - new evidence Pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood are significant life experiences impacting women and their families. Growing evidence suggests models of maternity care impact clinical outcomes and birth experiences. Women desire relational maternity care founded on their unique needs, wishes, and values. The higher the level of continuity of care across the entire maternity care experience, including postnatal care, the more positive women were about the model. Designing a maternity service that is women-centred and therefore inclusive of women’s experiences should be a priority for policy maker and managers in health services. https://lnkd.in/g3V6_ksU... #mattersmaternal