States Limit Access to Abortion and the Ballot Box WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 30, 2024 – A new report, Democracy & Abortion Access: Restrictive Voting Laws Threaten Freedoms, by the National Partnership for Women & Families found that the states with...
Spotlight on Success: Open Arms Perinatal Services
CASE STUDY | Open Arms Perinatal Services illustrates how community doulas who provide extended support from pregnancy through the postpartum and early childhood periods can dramatically improve the health of childbearing women and people and their babies. Open Arms...
This Mother’s Day, Moms Need Child Care, Paid Leave and Protections While Pregnant
FACT SHEET | Although all women are more likely to have home and care responsibilities than men, mothers have been particularly impacted by the pandemic economy.
Spotlight on Success: Roots Community Birth Center
CASE STUDY | The Roots Community Birth Center demonstrates the exceptional value of community-based and -led forms of the birth center model for communities disadvantaged by structural racism, intergenerational underinvestment, and other forms of discrimination.
Recommendations to Increase Access to Community Birth Settings
RECOMMENDATIONS | For many pregnant people, community birth options offer better care, more positive experiences, improved health outcomes, and potential cost benefits.
Executive Summary: Improving Maternity Care Through Community Birth Settings
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | Research shows that there are specific care models that can make a concrete difference in improving maternity care quality and producing better outcomes, including for birthing People of Color. One of these is the care provided in community birth...
Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Community Birth Settings
REPORT | This report outlines the evidence that supports the unique value of community birth settings across different communities, the safety and effectiveness of care in these settings in improving maternal and infant outcomes, the interest of birthing people in use...
Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Midwifery
REPORT | This report outlines the evidence that supports midwifery’s unique value across different communities, the safety and effectiveness of midwifery care in improving maternal and infant outcomes, the interest of birthing people in midwifery care, and the current...
Black Maternal Health Leaders’ Letter in Support of Build Back Better Advancements in Maternal Health
The undersigned represent more than 50 reproductive justice organizations and Black policy leaders committed to advancing Black maternal health through critical policy change. We applaud the investments in the House of Representatives’ Build Back Better Act text,...
Spotlight on Success: The Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns Initiative
CASE STUDY | The Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns Initiative was a federal five-year, multi-site project to test and evaluate enhanced prenatal care interventions for women enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) who were at risk...
Spotlight on Success: Mercy Birthing Center
CASE STUDY | The Mercy Birthing Center illustrates the potential of a flourishing midwifery-led unit within a hospital. The center is a separate unit operated by CNMs within Mercy Hospital St. Louis. It was established in response to women’s growing interests in...
Recommendations to Increase Access to Midwifery Care
RECOMMENDATIONS | Midwives have a distinctive, dignifying, person-centered, skilled model of care and an exemplary track record. They are an important part of the solution to the nation’s need for a higher-performing maternity care system and shortage of maternity...
Executive Summary: Improving Maternity Care Through Midwifery
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | Research shows that midwifery care provides equal or better care and outcomes compared to physician care on many key indicators, including higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth, higher rates of breastfeeding, higher birthing person satisfaction...
Poor-Quality Built Environments Hurt Moms
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Deficiencies in neighborhoods' physical conditions impair the health of pregnant people and their infants.
Maternal Mental Health Crisis Undermines Moms’ and Babies’ Health
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Untreated maternal mental health means worse health outcomes for moms and babies.
Incarceration Hurts Moms and Babies
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Mass incarceration is hurting pregnant people and their infants
Substance Use Disorder Hurts Moms and Babies
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Health care and support for pregnant people with substance use disorder are inaccessible and inequitable, and instead they shamed, stigmatized, and punished.
Racism Hurts Moms and Babies
MOMS & BABIES | Public awareness about the devastating impacts of systemic and interpersonal racism has increased sharply with the escalation of racist violence and the COVID-19 pandemic’s disparate impact on communities of color.
Saving the Lives of Moms and Babies
REPORT | This series connects the dots between how different socioeconomic factors affect maternal and infant health, the outsize impact these factors have on BIPOC communities, and recommendations to effect the change we need to ensure all moms and babies thrive.
Immigrant Moms and Babies Are Being Denied Health Care
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Many immigrants are denied access to health care, leaving moms and babies at risk.
Higher Temperatures Hurt Moms and Babies
MOMS & BABIES | The Problem: Our climate is getting hotter and it risks the health of moms and babies.