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For first-time live births, Black women are 21% more likely to undergo cesarean deliveries than other women, which researchers believe accounts for a modest amount of excess maternal morbidity among women of color. Why is this happening? Learn how Black maternal health disparities coincide with C-section birth and why it matters: https://miblues.co/49D9fwT #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #MaternalHealth #Csections

Today is the International Day to End #ObstetricFistula. Obstetric Fistula is a traumatic childbirth injury that results in a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum. A fistula not only causes women to leak urine or feces uncontrollably, 90% of women who develop a fistula also deliver a stillborn baby. By our estimate, as many as half a million women and girls have an obstetric fistula. Often, these women are pushed to the outskirts of their communities and abandoned by their loved ones. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Obstetric fistula is not only preventable, but also treatable. That’s why we’re working to eliminate obstetric fistula by 2030 – and you can join us. Learn more:

As we approach National Maternal Health Awareness Day on January 23, I want to shed light on the crisis in access many women and families are facing as they seek maternal and reproductive health care. 🟪 In 2015, the maternal mortality rate in the United States was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest of any resource-rich country. 🟪 Non-Hispanic Black women experience maternal deaths at three to four times that of non-Hispanic white women. The risk of maternal mortality among Black women persists after controlling for socioeconomic status. 🟪 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 60% of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and most (44%) occur within 42 days of the postpartum period. In particular, I want to call attention to the millions of women who lost Medicaid coverage at the conclusion of COVID-19 health emergency funding, including those in the postpartum period when intervention to reverse the inequities in prenatal care health is most critical. This loss of coverage most profoundly affected Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women and their families. How can we design to reverse these vast racial inequalities and obstacles in delivering equitable maternal and prenatal care? To more fully understand the complexity of this issue, I invite you to consider registering for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)’s live webinar tomorrow, featuring the experts who are navigating and working to mitigate the care access crisis in the United States. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gswZBNHw Together we can amplify awareness, advocate for solutions and take action. With Care, Bisi #maternalhealthcare #prenatalcare #healthcare

Did you know that in the United States, roughly 1 in 3 births occur via C-section? While this surgical intervention can be life-saving under specific circumstances, the escalating rates of unnecessary C-sections raise significant concerns for the well-being of both mothers and babies. According to a study spanning 194 member states of the World Health Organization from 2005 to 2014, C-section rates surpassing 19 per cent don't yield better outcomes for mothers or infants. However, the United States has maintained a rate of approximately 32 per cent for the past 15 years, resulting in roughly half a million unnecessary surgeries annually. Despite its significant impact, the prevalence of high C-section rates often remains absent from discussions on escalating maternal mortality, declining birth rates, and racial disparities in birth outcomes. Comparatively, individuals undergoing C-sections are at four to five times higher risk of mortality than those opting for vaginal deliveries. Additionally, they face increased challenges in conceiving and having fewer children, whether by choice or circumstance. Black and Hispanic expectant individuals experience higher C-section rates than their white counterparts with similar risk profiles. Access to timely, appropriate, and respectful care during childbirth is of utmost importance. Every woman deserves the opportunity to make informed decisions about her birth experience, supported by comprehensive information and compassionate guidance. #csectionawareness #csection #postpartum #maternalhealth #femtech

I attended the 2024 NYSIA Annual Meeting which was overall very informative I was glad to be there this year. I have always come away learning at least one new thing. I want to comment on the Friday morning Legislative Update to highlight one aspect that I feel is of great importance - the comments regards the presentation of Gov Hochul's State of the State announcement to expand statewide Paid Family Leave policy for maternal prenatal health care. This differs greatly from the current NYS PFL in which the short-term disability benefits (Gov Hochul also mandated for higher benefits, which, I applaud), would not go into effect until FOUR WEEKS prior to the baby's birth after a SEVEN DAY wait period. As per the article from the National Library of Medicine: Abstract excerpt: "Significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality exist in the United States. Black women are three to four times more likely to die a pregnancy-related death as compared with white women. Growing research indicates that quality of healthcare, from preconception through postpartum care, may be a critical lever for improving outcomes for racial and ethnic minority women." https://lnkd.in/eEBekXrk In the 2023 March of Dimes Report Card of preterm births which is inextricable to maternal prenatal care show the following statewide grades: The nationwide grade is D+ The worst is in the Southern States - Grade F New York is C+ These concerns are not only in the USA, but globally. As a global community; which we are, it is in all our interests to assure access to unbiased quality medical care; prenatal healthcare and parent education e.g. the developmental phases of a pregnancy/fetus; factors that adversely impact the developing fetus; access to pre and post natal support; nutrition; to name but a few of what is necessary to bring a healthy new infant into our world; to support & protect both the mother and father. The bottomline is that as a global community, which we are, we are all shaped by our experiences; social/economic/environments/mental states of mind/education/bias/inequities/racism/intergenerational trauma/conflict/violence. The health and well-being of all persons manifests as a thriving, flourishing organization and society; locally and globally. March of Dimes - https://lnkd.in/epaD96sd #maternalchildhealth #maternalmortality #maternalhealthdisparities #maternalhealthBIPOC #maternalchildhealthinequities #intergenerationaltrauma #womenhealth #parentingeducation

Amidst a landscape where millions grapple with endometriosis, recognising its symptoms is paramount. This condition, affecting up to 10 per cent of reproductive age women, often goes undiagnosed, leading to needless suffering. Dr Tang Boon Nee, SJMC consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, sheds light on the signs and the importance of early intervention. Let's empower women to seek help sooner and break the silence surrounding women's health by recognising the signs and symptoms of endemetriosis. Read more - https://lnkd.in/g5mkkUzb #sjmc #subangjayamedicalcentre #Endometriosis #EndometriosisAwareness #EmpowerWomen #EarlyIntervention Boon nee Tang

Please use this 50 days free access link to the complete paper for my team's publication on the meaning of obstetric violence in the US maternity care system. https://lnkd.in/gkiT6UZq This sample of obstetric violence experiences from the Break the Silence social media campaign demonstrated that: 💢Depersonalized or dehumanized encounters was the most heavily coded category for obstetric violence experiences, while birth rape may be the most intimate category of violation with participants adding a hashtag for #BirthRapeIsReal. 💢Coerced or forced procedures was the category connected to obstetric violence experiences second most often, and “using the dead baby card” was a distinct category that served as a mechanism for healthcare providers to keep control over decision making. 💢 There is categorical and thematic consistency about types and forms of obstetric violence across the global evidence base on the problem.

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health sheds light on the often-overlooked postnatal health challenges faced by millions of women worldwide. Despite their prevalence, these conditions receive limited attention in clinical research, practice, and policy. The study underscores the urgent need for greater recognition within healthcare systems, emphasizing the importance of effective care throughout pregnancy and childbirth as a preventive measure against long-term health complications. Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, emphasizes the need for comprehensive services that extend beyond childbirth. The research calls for a holistic approach, addressing social, economic, and environmental factors influencing women’s health, and advocating for a strong, multidisciplinary health system to support women throughout their lives. Striving for progress, the study reminds us that the journey doesn’t end with childbirth – it extends into the ongoing well-being of all women.

Research shows that working with a doula can reduce C-section rates, decrease complications, and increase satisfaction with birth experiences. Today, Black communities in particular, who face disproportionate disparities in maternal health outcomes, have turned to doulas in hopes of addressing and improving Black infant and maternal mortality rates, as well as other healthcare disparities. Learn more about how doulas can positively impact Black mothers and families. #BMHW24 #maternalhealth #doulas