More women becoming pregnant in the U.S. are already sick with serious chronic conditions. This is one of the reasons why, in the last 20 years, the number of women dying from complications related to childbirth has more than doubled in this country, while maternal mortality is actually decreasing in developing countries. We can do better. Through our experience on Philadelphia’s Maternal Mortality Review team, we know that it takes changing the way systems work together, as well as engaging pregnant women in their own care for lifelong health. These ideas are what led us to develop the Safe Start program, a partnership between the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Keystone First, Community Behavioral Health and Maternity Care Coalition. In August 2017, through More U.S. women are dying in childbirth: What can be done?, the Philadelphia Inquirer tells the compelling story of our clients, Advocates and the Safe Start program and its partnership. Our goal is to expand this approach so that all pregnant women with chronic conditions can get the care they need.
Below you will find an excerpt from the article. To read it in it’s entirety, please follow the link here.
