ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – A lack of maternity care resources and expertise is a concern across Southwest Virginia, but one organization is trying to combat the issue by making it easier for mothers to receive maternity care in their own homes.
Roanoke-based nonprofit organization Huddle Up Moms recently launched a new program to help mothers monitor their health and prevent rising maternal mortality rates. “Moms Under Pressure” aims to help mothers and families avoid pregnancy complications through blood pressure monitoring.
As maternity units in Southwest Virginia close, doulas and midwives are in high demand, and advocates like Mikayla Hensen, president of Moms Under Pressure, said it’s going to take everyone working together to solve the crisis.
“We have to address poor maternal health as a whole,” Hensen said.
Virginia’s maternal mortality rate is higher than advocates say it should be, about 30 deaths per 100,000 births. The March of Dimes director explained that Virginia’s maternal mortality rate would not improve if more hospitals dropped delivery services.
“it is [families] “Where it used to be a 10-minute drive to the hospital, now it’s 30 or 45 minutes,” Mallory Mpare says. “When we talk about maternal mortality, we’re often talking about some kind of major health issue that can be picked up by someone who can respond quickly.”
The closures have led to an increased demand for doulas and midwives who can support rural families through pregnancy, and the closure of maternity wards has led more families to seek support from organisations like Huddle Up Mums.
“We’re trying to fill the gaps in these rural areas,” Hensen said.
The nonprofit’s latest initiative, “Moms Under Pressure,” provides families with tools to prevent pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, which Hensen explained is one way of tackling the ongoing crisis of maternity unit closures.
“We will deliver blood pressure measuring kits. [mothers] “This allows us to monitor the number of births at home,” Hensen says, “and by expanding our use of doulas and midwives, we can reach smaller communities with fewer resources.”
Hensen, a mother herself, explained that the program is free and designed to help everyone.
“If you need help, we’re here to help,” Hensen said.
So far, Moms Under Pressure has distributed 100 kits to mothers to help them monitor their health. Find out how to sign up here.
As maternity ward closures continue in Southwest Virginia and across Virginia, Huddle Up Moms plans to expand this and similar programs.
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