New initiative aims to improve care for New York mothers

According to a report from the United Nations and World Health Organization, the United States ranks 47th out of 180 countries in infant mortality. It is estimated that two to three women die each day in the U.S. from complications during their pregnancy. However, these numbers are helping to spur changes in the way that care is provided during pregnancy.

Among these changes, medical professionals will start making visits to the homes of pregnant women as well as creating standard protocols for how to handle issues such as bleeding during a delivery. These are all part of a $500 million initiative led by Merck for Mothers. The organization's goal is to deliver better prenatal care to people who may not have enough money to see a doctor during the time that they are pregnant.

A lack of prenatal care can make it difficult to detect problems with a fetus or conditions that could pose a danger to the mother in the first trimester of a pregnancy. This can lead to a higher mortality rate for both babies and mothers. In Camden, New Jersey, there are a reported 30 deaths per 100,000 babies born compared to Philadelphia where there are only 18 deaths per 100,000 births.

As research indicates, it is important that mothers get consistently good care to increase the chances of their babies being born healthy. While most doctors are able to provide a high level of care and a safe environment before, during and after a pregnancy, an error in the delivery room or anytime before the delivery could result in undue complications or birth injury. Those who believe that a health care practitioner may have made a mistake that resulted in injury to their baby or to themselves may find it advisable to speak with a medical malpractice attorney.

Source: WWSB My Suncoast, "New programs aim to save lives of American moms in childbirth", July 04, 2014