Every Mother Counts

📣 Paid family leave is a maternal health issue. More than half of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period, yet this stage of pregnancy is often overlooked in maternal health policy. We cannot protect the health of mothers and parents without supporting them through this critical period. This #LaborDay, Every Mother Counts affirms the indisputable need for federally mandated paid family leave to address the maternal health crisis in the United States. If you want to learn more about why supportive policies like paid family leave are essential for mothers and birthing people during the postpartum period, watch our recent film Giving Birth in America: Arkansas: https://bit.ly/43qCtfn

Maternal deaths due to drug overdose skyrocketed between 2018 and 2021. Data suggests stigma and harmful misconceptions impede the provision of and access to quality care for pregnant people with substance use disorder. Today, on Overdose Awareness Day, tap the link in our bio to learn more. #OverdoseAware

“It’s not race itself that has an impact,” said Maria B. Ospina, a clinical epidemiologist and an associate professor at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. “…It is the experiences of racism and segregation that have affected every single aspect of African American women’s lives.” The tragic death of 30-year old Harmony Ball-Stribling while she was eight months pregnant is the outcome of the many systemic factors that contribute to the Black maternal health crisis in the U.S. 🔗 https://nyti.ms/4dSahI6

🌟 EMC is searching for a Director of Policy & Advocacy! 🌟 We're looking for a passionate leader with deep expertise and an intricate understanding of the U.S. maternal health policy landscape to build on and grow EMC’s policy and advocacy work. Sound like you or someone you know? 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3MipgyZ

"This culture of ‘can’t’ needs to change.” - Cristina Gamboa, MD FACOG 🎥 Watch our founder and president, Christy Turlington Burns, in conversation with advocates, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, earlier at this year’s Aspen Ideas, as they discuss ways the maternal health landscape in the United States must change to work better for mothers. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3xiAVKx Credit: Jared Leake

No one should be denied life-saving medical care. Healthcare providers should not be prevented from or afraid to provide life-saving medical care. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Safe, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all is ONLY possible with timely access to safe abortion care. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4clqlAJ

We’re thrilled that maternal health is emerging as a priority among leaders in the U.S. It needs to stay that way. Two years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration published The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which outlined 50 actions from over a dozen federal agencies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, reduce racial disparities in maternal health, and improve experiences of perinatal care. Read the Administration’s reflections on two years of progress: https://bit.ly/4dd9T72

On this International Day of the World's Indigenous People, Every Mother Counts proudly honors Indigenous midwives who preserve ancestral wisdom and provide culturally congruent maternity care. In Guatemala, Indigenous Mayan women face a maternal mortality rate twice that of non-Indigenous women, underscoring the critical need to invest in healthcare providers that resemble the communities being served and integrate their work into the country’s healthcare system. Our grantee partners, Asociación de las Comadronas del Area Mam (ACAM) and Asociación Corazón del Agua are strengthening the workforce of Indigenous midwives to bring skilled, culturally sensitive maternity care to Indigenous mothers that improves birth outcomes. 🔗 You can learn more about their important work at https://lnkd.in/eSgCXmNi. Photo 1: ACAM midwife, Magda, and new midwife, Martiza, and student midwife, Dulce, provide a community day training on cervical dilation in the community of Varsovia. (ACAM, 2023) Photo 2: Graduate midwives at the Corazon del Agua midwifery school in Guatemala City. (Janet Jarman, 2022)

Are you a development professional who loves working with individual donors and planning events and engagement campaigns? Are you passionate about improving maternal health around the world? Do you live in or near New York City? ✨ We’re looking for a Director, Engagement to join our growing Development team! Sound like you or someone you know? Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WQHdeg

Don’t miss our founder Christy Turlington Burns at Parrish Art Museum on August 9! We hope you'll join us at a special screening and discussion of our film Giving Birth in America: Arkansas, which highlights the stories of three mothers in Arkansas navigating the maternal healthcare system postpartum. 🔗 Grab your tickets now: https://bit.ly/4frTfSB See you there!