Maternal and Infant Health
Putting maternal and infant health first because every mom and baby deserve a healthy start.
The stages of pregnancy, postpartum recovery, infancy and early childhood are crucial for both a mother's well-being and the overall health of her family. This period of growth and change provides an opportunity to build the foundation for better health, from the moment of conception and beyond. In partnership with community organizations and maternal health professionals, we’re dedicated to improving maternal and infant health among those most at-risk for poor health outcomes.
Racial Disparities in Maternal Health
Longstanding inequities in maternal and infant health lead to worse health outcomes for women of color.
The statistics are striking, racial disparities in maternal and infant health in the United States have persisted for decades despite continued advancements in medical care:
- Black and American Indian/Alaska Native people are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White people. (Source: Addressing maternal health inequities | AAMC).
- Black women are twice as likely to experience complications during pregnancy. (Source: Addressing maternal health inequities | AAMC).
- Black, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN), and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) women have more pre-term births and infants with lower birthweight than White women.
- In Berrien County, based on data provided by Corewell Health over a three-year period (2019-2021), there’s a significant difference in the percentage of pre-term births by race with Black women 50% more likely to experience pre-term labor.
- Babies born to Black, AIAN, and NHOPI mothers have higher mortality rates than those born to White women. (Source: Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them | KFF).
- This is evident in our own community, with gaps identified with babies born to Black women and White women. In Berrien County, based on data provided by Corewell Health over a three-year period (2019-2021), there were close to 17 infant deaths per thousand births for Black woman compared to four for White women.
By focusing on and bringing awareness to these and other racial and health disparities across the nation and in Berrien County, we hope to work towards eliminating the drivers of these inequities, reducing gaps in patient outcomes, and saving lives.
From bump to baby, care at every step
Faced with this troublesome reality, staff at the Corewell Health Center for Wellness work to improve health and advance equity for at-risk/vulnerable pregnant women and their families before, during, and after childbirth, through the following dedicated efforts and resources:
- Providing ongoing support to families to ensure their needs are met with evidence-based home visiting programs and community-based taskforces.
- Educating expectant families on breastfeeding, childbirth, self-advocacy; understanding your rights; and warning signs to be aware of during pregnancy so you know when to seek help.
- Teaching the necessary skills to navigate pregnancy and childbirth challenges.
- Expanding access to care, services, and providers that support maternal and infant health.
- Raising awareness about social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes in our community.
- Improving data collection and reporting efforts to identify inequities and gaps in care and services, helping us to continue advocating for the needs of our maternal and infant health population.
- Addressing racism and discrimination within policies, practices, and systems that perpetuate inequities.
- Leveraging community resources and support networks to create a robust web of assistance that extends beyond the health care system.