Australian College of Midwives’ Post

🤰 Pregnancy and the first years of life are an important window of opportunity for screening for domestic and honour-related violence. 👩⚕️ In Sweden, systematic screening during pregnancy was initiated in 2008, and with Denmarks new national guidelines in May all the Nordic countries now have universal screening for domestic violence in the first 1000 days. The pregnant woman is always to be asked about violence without the partner present, and there has to be a plan to put in action when violence is detected. – Screening for domestic and honour-related violence provides an excellent example of the value of Nordic collaboration in knowledge-based care and services for children and families, says Liv Lyngå von Folsach, Medical Chief Officer at the National Health Authorities in Denmark, and a member of The Nordic Network on the Child’s First 1000 Days. ✒ Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dimKr9uC

🌍 World Prematurity Day 🌍 Today is World Prematurity Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about preterm birth and its impact on families, healthcare systems, and communities around the world. Did you know? 🍼 Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. 🍼 Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5, with an estimated 1 million infants losing their lives annually. 🍼 In many cases, preterm birth can be prevented with access to quality healthcare, proper prenatal care, and increased awareness. Premature birth affects more than just the child it impacts parents, families, and entire communities. But with better resources, healthcare, and support systems, we can help ensure more babies survive. At Advanced Healthcare Technology Ltd. we're proud to support such an important day and we know, the conversation around this topic should continue year-round! #WorldPrematurityDay

Join us for our *FREE* virtual Healthy MOM webinar April 10th at 2:30PM ET featuring experts from the NWHN, March of Dimes, and Congress to learn how we can all work together to protect health care coverage during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Webinar attendees will learn: ✔️ Health care advocacy and navigation strategies for mothers and their loved ones postpartum ✔️ Why the United States has the worst maternal health outcomes as compared to other high-income countries, and how barriers to coverage make these outcomes worse ✔️ Why pregnancy and childbirth are so expensive in the United States, and how this contributes to preventable maternal deaths ✔️ What we mean by the “4th trimester,” and why this time is critical for maternal health ✔️ All about the Healthy MOM Act, a bill introduced by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) that seeks a special enrollment period for pregnant women so they can access high-quality and timely prenatal care. Reserve your spot now: https://bit.ly/4auOsMS

Navigating High-Risk Pregnancies with a Helping Hand When life piles on challenges, finding the support you need can be life-changing. Shakeria Clark, a 29-year-old from North Carolina, faced unimaginable losses and adversity. Despite the odds, including food insecurity and unemployment, she found strength in a surprising source: high-risk pregnancy navigators. High-risk pregnancy navigators like Samantha Sharp are dedicated professionals who support expectant mothers throughout their journey. From arranging steady meals through local food pantries to securing programs like WIC, they ensure no mother has to face these challenges alone. Samantha even helps with essentials like transportation, meals, and diapers, so mothers can focus more on their health and well-being. The holistic support these navigators provide goes beyond medical care. They empower mothers to advocate for themselves and offer continuous emotional support. For Shakeria, this was the lifeline she needed, turning her fears and uncertainties into confidence and resilience. #MaternalHealth #PregnancySupport #CommunityCare

#Motherhood is a journey, not a destination and every mother deserves the safest journey into motherhood.    For far too many women in India, the very act of giving life can be fraught with danger. The shadow of maternal mortality, the tragic death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth, hangs heavy over this transformative experience.   National Safe Motherhood Day, observed annually on 11th April in India, is a poignant reminder of the need to safeguard mothers' well-being throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This day calls for action to address the global crisis of #maternalhealth and advocate for equitable access to healthcare.   This day celebrates mothers and acknowledges their challenges. Beyond awareness, it's a call to action.   The fight for safe motherhood demands a multi-pronged approach – accessible healthcare, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment from individuals and organizations alike.   Does your organization prioritize maternal health and postpartum support in your policies and practices? Reach us to know how you can ensure every mother receives the care and support she deserves, even in the workplace.   #MaternalHealthMatters #SafeMotherhood #DNI Sonica Aron (She/Her/Hers) Kunal S. Krati Vyas Bhaskar Batri Nandini Aggarwal Ishu Chaudhary

Hey connections, Here's an article of safe motherhood day Safe motherhood is an initiative of the UN launched in 1987 to ensure that women go through pregnancy and childbirth safely and give birth to healthy children, reinforced by maternal mortality reduction in the MDGs of 2000–15. Yet every year, hundreds of thousands of women die or suffer serious complications from pregnancy and childbirth. Safe motherhood begins before conception with proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Planned pregnancy, appropriate prenatal care, prevention of complications when possible, and early and effective treatment of complications are all essential to maternal care. Labor at term with adequate care but without unnecessary interventions, followed by the delivery of a healthy infant and provision of a healthy postpartum environment, is vital for the physical and emotional needs of the woman, infant, and family. This process requires the support of many diverse sectors of the nation, the family, educators, employers, health care providers, community groups, and others. Good maternity care invests in the physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being of women, their children, their families, and by extension, the nation. Reducing inequalities in accessing professional care is key to attaining the goal of good quality and compassionate maternal health. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinkinhg

The Kahu Taurima national project has the potential to create much needed change for women and babies. It is evident that our services in maternal and child health is missing the basic mark on maternal and child development care holistically. We were honoured to lead a response for this RFP. My (usual) findings: 📍Years of fragmented care and service contracts contributes to declining outcomes for families. 📍Lack of coordinated care between service providers. 📍Maternal wellness starts before pregnancy and every effort must be made to educate whaanau towards a comprehensive sexual and reproductive care. This comprehensive model of care is missing for now. 📍The high maternal and perinatal mortality rates for Pasifika peoples (as well as for Māori and Indian population) needs careful planning and attention should be directed towards effective community of care model. 📍Go back to doing basics well and doing it right. The Kahu Taurima national project will be a game changer if sustained and if impacts are measured well to convey better outcomes for families.

A must read! If you want to know why it's so important to invest time and money into supporting and empowering women to be active, please read this report. Active mums raise active children. Active mums and active children are happier, are physically healthier and connect better with others. But they face multiple barriers to accessing and engaging in movement that they enjoy. Key findings include: - around 40% of pregnant women and only 27% of postnatal women felt they had the opportunity to be active. - Nearly 60% had experienced pelvic floor and/or abdominal wall issues - less than half of respondents received advice about physical activity during pregnancy - postnatally, out of the 76% who had received a 6-8 week GP check, physical activity had been discussed with only 13% of those This isn't just an issue for the pregnant woman, this is an issue for the whole family... the whole community. What can you do? Read this report, share it, advocate for it. Become a #ThisMumMovesAmbassador and/or complete the free e-learning available with the NHS. Contact your local Active Partnerships, find out more about what's going on for mums in the local area. Champion movement for mums. I was a mum who did not receive this support and was someone who suffered with severe PTSD and mental health problems plus struggled to develop a bond with my child because of it. Dancing became my life line and gave me hope, gave me the feeling of support, gave me happiness, gave me physical strength. This enabled me to show up for my new family. But if I had not been working for an Active Partnership at the time.... would I have pushed so hard for it? Would I have accessed the same information or felt as empowered? Sport England Katie Ash Active Cornwall Kernow Local Medical Committee Jodie Pethick Active Partnerships Paula Bright Fay Colloff #movementmatters #mentalhealthmatters #beststartinlife ##tacklinginequalities

Today is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a day to honor and remember all the precious babies who were taken too soon. This day is especially important for Black mothers and families, who often face higher rates of pregnancy and infant loss due to systemic racism and healthcare disparities. According to statistics, Black women are two to three times more likely to experience pregnancy and infant loss compared to white women. This is unacceptable and is a direct result of systemic racism within our healthcare system. Black mothers in Delaware deserve better access to quality healthcare and support during their pregnancies to ensure the best possible outcomes for themselves and their babies. As we remember and honor the babies we have lost, let's also continue to advocate for better healthcare for Black mothers and families in Delaware. Let's work together to address systemic racism and ensure that mothers and babies receive the care and support they need and deserve. #PregnancyandInfantLossRemembranceDay #BlackMaternalHealthMatters #EndHealthDisparities #RememberingOurBabies #SystemicRacismInHealthcare #SupportBlackMothers #DelawareHealthcareEquity #AccessToQualityCare #AdvocateForChange #PregnancyAndInfantLossRemembranceDay #BlackMaternalHealth

What do you think of when you hear the word 'doula'? For many this specifically relates to supporting women during pregnancy and birth, but for us it is so much more than that. We support women in all stages of life, whatever they are facing. Find out more on our website here: https://lnkd.in/d34i8tz2