As we prepare to mark the 248th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we are increasingly reminded that our democracy has always been a work in progress – and that the progress we have achieved has never been easy or conflict-free.
New Bill Mental Health and MAMA Aims to Break Barriers and Advance Maternal Health
Maternal mental health conditions affect one in five women and can lead to adverse health outcomes for both mothers and infants. That’s why we’re so glad Congress has introduced the Mental Health and Making Access More Affordable (MAMA) Act to support mental health services for pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Black Maternal Health Week 2024: The Legacy of Black Maternal Wisdom
To tell the story of reproductive justice without the long history of the labor of Black women’s bodies is to do a disservice to the reproductive justice movement.
Bills in Limbo aren’t Helping Black Mothers
In honor of Black History Month, this piece highlights the Black Maternal Health Momnibus act as a labor of love and how keeping these bills in limbo isn’t helping black mothers.
Toward Maternity Care APMs That Improve Outcomes And Equity
One leading strategy for confronting the maternal health crisis is to advance payment and delivery reforms with the specific aim of improving maternal-newborn outcomes and increasing equity.
Black Women & Birthing People: We Inherit Joy, Too
Black women, in particular, are no strangers to traumatic experiences or being forced to be “strong” and “resilient” in the face of said trauma and, yet, somehow, finding joy anyhow. This is especially true for Black maternal health.
This Earth Day, Let’s Treat Environmental Justice as a Gender Equity Issue
As we celebrate Earth Day and reflect on the steps we can all take to protect our planet, it’s important to highlight that climate change doesn’t impact everyone equally. Decades of racist policies – from housing to infrastructure to economic policies – often restricted low-income communities and communities of color to areas with more environmental hazards and heavy pollution.
Braidwood v. Becerra Poses New Threat to Women and Families
No-Cost Preventive Services in Danger
In Braidwood Management, Judge O’Connor ruled unconstitutional a key provision of the ACA preventive health services requirement. This would undermine access to cost-free coverage for chronic disease screenings, cancer screenings, and vaccinations that over 150 million people benefit from.
NEWS: No, Justice Alito, reproductive justice is in the Constitution
Editor’s Note: The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and reverse a legal precedent of nearly 50 years is no surprise. The willingness of the Court’s majority to disrespect the importance of women’s autonomy and catapult them backwards into a 19th century, second-class status speaks volumes about the majority’s lack of respect for women’s equality and individual dignity.
Why Care in Community Birth Settings Works So Well for All Birthing People
Maternity care in “community birth” settings – both such as birth centers and planned home birth – is associated with lower rates of preterm and cesarean birth and higher breastfeeding rates compared to similar people with standard physician-led and hospital-based maternity care. Keep reading to learn why.
Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week 2022
Black Maternal Health Week was created to raise awareness of the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes for Black women and to inspire activism in support of Black-led maternal health initiatives. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the goals of Black Maternal Health Week are to: Deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the US…
Unprepared: Reflections of a Labor and Delivery Nurse
As a labor and delivery nurse, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of untreated substance use disorders (SUD) and mental illnesses in pregnancy and postpartum—as one of the many ways our healthcare system fails to support and care for these moms and babies.
The COVID-19 vaccine is here, but what does this mean for pregnant people?
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in nearly 50,000 cases and more than 60 deaths among pregnant people across the United States. And these numbers will surely increase as infections continue to surge over the winter months.
When Calling the Police Doesn’t Help: The Criminalization of Survivors and Pregnant People
Most sexual assault is never reported,often because survivors distrust or fear the police, or believe that the police can’t or won’t do anything to help.
Maternity Care in the United States: We Can – And Must – Do Better
Summary of new report on maternity care system.
Stabilize Housing, Improve Women’s Health
Where you live, work and play all affect your health. Indeed, research shows that access to nutritious food and safe housing are clearly linked to your health.
Healing with HEAA
Supporting the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) should be a no-brainer. This bill would help eliminate racial and ethnic health and health care disparities.
Honoring Black Maternal Health Week
Too many Black women are dying in pregnancy and childbirth. It’s unacceptable. We’re proud to support Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Black Maternal Health Week.
Standing Up for Women & Families in 2017
“This is the time to move women’s rights forward, not roll back the progress we have made over decades.”
Going Backward on Maternity Coverage Would Be Disastrous for Women’s Health
At her confirmation hearing last week, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said she thinks it should once again be optional for health plans to cover maternity care.
