We tested it. Industry leaders confirmed it. Our MOMobile program is effective, efficient and has lasting impact. An analysis of the MOMobile program was published in the journal, Zero to Three. This journal is the premier publication on maternal and child health. You can read the full article with pictures here or by clicking the image below. For more information about our MOMobile program, please visit our services to families page.
Every year during cold and flu season, parents head to the pediatrician’s office worried their child might have “daycare syndrome,” a nickname given to the series of daycare-related illnesses.
Often it means kids are kept at home and forces lots of parents to call in sick to work. The colds and stomach viruses are real, but retired pediatrician Susan Aronson said “daycare syndrome” isn’t really a thing.
Recently, our South Philadelphia Early Head Start shared with WHYY some tips on how to keep your children and self healthy during cold and flu season. You can read the full story here.
by Carol Sakala 
New Report: Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing
The country’s maternity care system is missing opportunities to provide better care and use resources more wisely by routinely intervening in labor and delivery in ways that interfere with, instead of promoting, supporting and protecting, innate biological processes that result in healthier outcomes for women and newborns. That is the conclusion of a major new report, Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care. The unprecedented synthesis of scientific research on how hormone systems function from late pregnancy through the early postpartum period concludes that commonly used maternity interventions —– such as labor induction, epidural analgesia, and cesarean section &mdashl can disturb hormonal processes and interfere with the benefits they offer.
Check out the report, booklet, fact sheets, infographics, and posters »
Recently our partner Merck for Mother’s Priya Agrawal and Linda Blount wrote an article for ThinkProgress examining maternal mortality in the US and the higher risks associated with pregnant women of color.
At MCC, working to reduce maternal morbidity in Philadelphia. Below is a summary, but we recommend that you read the full article via ThinkProgress’ website:
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination heard testimony this summer on severe inequities in maternal health outcomes. This is an important and longstanding conversation within the international reproductive health community. But there was something different this time — the discussion focused on the vast racial disparities in maternal health right here in the U.S.
The testimony was spurred by a new report, Reproductive Injustice, published by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and the SisterSong Women of Color Collective. The report’s shocking statistics and the women’s voices behind them make clear that the U.S. has a long way to go when it comes to maternal health outcomes — especially for women of color.
It’s hard to believe that maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are greater than in 63 other countries, but it’s true. Here in the United States, the proportion of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth complications is worse than Libya, Iran, and Turkey — and it’s going up, even though the rates are declining in nearly every other country in the world. When it comes to racial disparities, the situation is even bleaker. Nationally, black women are almost four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth compared to white women. Racial disparities in maternal mortality persist across all levels of income, age, and education.
Read The Full Article On ThinkProgress
Beginning on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 2 through December 31 every donation received will be matched by the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. Help spread the word by sharing our new video below featuring stories from two families who were helped while enrolled in our Early Head Start program.
Not only are donations being matched until December 31, if you make a minimum donation of $50 you can be entered into a contest to attend a private event hosted by WILL SMITH! So what are you waiting for? Like, Share AND GIVE!
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We congratulate Tom Wolf on winning Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race. We hope this election will usher in a new era of much needed progress on maternal and child health in Pennsylvania. We look forward to working with Mr. Wolf’s team and state lawmakers to promote legislation related to early childhood development, workplace support for breastfeeding mothers, access to the new health care marketplace, support for women before, during, and after pregnancy and ensuring a fair, livable wage for working Pennsylvanians.
For 35 years, MCC has dedicated itself to improving maternal and child health and wellbeing through the collaborative efforts of individuals, families, providers and communities. We focus our efforts on neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, infant mortality, health disparities, and changing immigration patterns. We submit the following call to action to Governor-elect Tom Wolf:
· Work with state legislators to pass the Pennsylvania Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (HB 1892 and SB 1209), introduced by Rep. Mark Painter (D-Montgomery), which would require certain employers to make reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.
· Work with state legislators to pass the Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers Act (HB 1895), introduced by Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery), which would require employers to provide break time and a private, sanitary space for employees who need to express breast milk.
· Support U.S. Senator Casey (D-PA) in his efforts to pass the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
· Work with state legislators to pass pay-equity legislation.
· Replace Corbett’s Healthy PA plan with a full expansion of Medicaid under the 2010 federal health care reform law.
· Support legislation related to the earliest years of childhood development (ages 0-3). Research shows that a child’s first years of life are critical in ensuring healthy mental, social, and physical growth needed for preschool and a lifetime of learning and wellbeing.
MCC is optimistic that Governor-elect Wolf will transform Pennsylvania into a national leader on maternal and child health matters. Pennsylvania can no longer afford to overlook women as leaders at home and in the workplace, as caregivers, educators, influencers, and economic contributors. We look forward to contributing our knowledge and energy to Mr. Wolf’s efforts to improve the lives of each and every Pennsylvanian.
It is with great excitement that I pen my first blog post as MCC’s newly appointed Director of EHS. And what a time to take up this honor – during Head Start Awareness Month, a time set aside to recognize the strides that Head Start and EHS programs across the country have taken in educating, shaping communities, and preparing children from low income families for school.
Our celebration of Head Start Awareness Month culminated in a Family Appreciation Day – where families from our sites in South Philadelphia, Norristown and Pottstown attended Mermaid Lake in Blue Bell, PA. They enjoyed food, family fun and an awards ceremony honoring parents who have made an extraordinary commitment to MCC, EHS and their child’s education.
It was an inspiration to meet our dedicated EHS parents. With a consistent emphasis on parent engagement, we provide opportunities for parents to volunteer, receive free trainings and the chance to take a governance role at MCC through the Parent Policy Council. Many of our parents have grasped these opportunities by becoming site volunteers, who give their time to read and play with children, to linguists who help us translate our materials into other languages, to members of our Policy Council and parent committees who help us improve our program.
While we celebrate parent involvement in the program, we also support parents in their role as their children’s first teachers. Those who attended the Family Appreciation Day were invited to take part in a “story corner”, where they were encouraged to read their favorite children’s books aloud to their kids. Parents joined in wholeheartedly, reading aloud from the books that were voted as their favorites, including Clifford the Big Red Dog and Goodnight Moon, as well as moving and inspiring books penned and donated by MCC supporters, Will and Jada Smith. The importance of reading to children can’t be overstated. Researchers frequently refer to the “language gap” – a finding from a groundbreaking study which showed by age 3, children from wealthiest families have heard 30 million more words than children from the poorest. This translates that children from low-income families have slower vocabulary development, decreased language comprehension, and an overall smaller vocabulary size.
A 2013 report by The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed that 77% of low-income elementary students in Pennsylvania do not read at grade level. Such differences only increase as children ascend through school, leading to decreased high school and college graduates. Through our emphasis on working with parents so they can become their children’s first teachers, and providing children with a curriculum that ensures they are ready for school, EHS is a critical partner in closing the language gap.
Through the emphasis on cooperation between parents and Advocates or teachers, EHS really works. For example, last year 88% of enrolled children demonstrated improved communication, language and emergent literary skills, 90% demonstrated improved general cognitive skills and 97% demonstrated improved and positive approaches toward learning and increased attention skills. If that’s not cause for celebration, then I don’t know what is!
Unless you have a high risk pregnancy most doctors feel it's safe to travel during the first 8 months of pregnancy. The main concerns with travel during pregnancy are
If you have any medical or obstetric complications, such as poorly controlled diabetes, placental problems, or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, your provider may recommend that you not travel at any time during your pregnancy.
If you plan to travel, discuss the trip with your health care provider. Talk about:
Generally, the safest time to travel during pregnancy is the second trimester (13 to 28 weeks). At this time you probably feel your best and you are in the least danger of having a miscarriage or premature labor. While traveling in and by itself is unlikely to increase your risks, there is always a possibility of complications, especially premature labor and delivery. So you need to ask yourself whether you feels safe having a baby wherever you are traveling to.
Avoid traveling any long distance during the last 2 or 3 weeks before your due date. If labor starts early, you will want to be close to home.
What are the general guidelines for travel during pregnancy?
What if I am traveling by bus or train?
You may have less opportunity to walk every couple of hours when you travel by bus. Take advantage of any stops the bus makes to get some exercise.
When you are traveling by train, get up and walk every hour or two.
Remember that there are fewer bathrooms on a bus than a train.
The motion of a train ride will not cause any problems with the pregnancy, such as starting labor.
Are there special concerns for traveling by air?
Flying is usually a safe way to travel. Most domestic airlines will allow a pregnant woman to fly up to the 36th week of pregnancy if there are no problems with the pregnancy. Each airline has policies regarding pregnancy and flying. Check with your airline when you reserve your tickets to see if you need to complete any medical forms.
Suggested guidelines for traveling by air are:
Are there any problems with traveling by sea or ship?
Seasickness is a concern for many people traveling by sea. Your health care provider may recommend medicine that helps prevent motion sickness and is safe during pregnancy. You might also consider trying acupressure wristbands.
Be aware that the medical services on a ship are very limited.
What are the guidelines for traveling internationally?
You should not travel out of the country without discussing it first with your health care provider. Your provider may decide foreign travel is not safe for you. If it is safe, your provider will let you know what should be done before you leave and when you arrive at your destination. You may want to register with an American Embassy or Consulate after you arrive. It is important to make sure you have had all the shots you need for the countries you are planning to visit. Some immunizations cannot be given to pregnant women.
Make sure your health insurance is valid abroad and during pregnancy. Also check that the policy covers a newborn if you were to give birth during your travels.
Be especially cautious about what you eat in countries where traveler's diarrhea might be a problem. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which reduces the blood flow to the placenta and your baby.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an International Travelers Hotline for information on disease and world travel. The phone number is (404) 332-4559. The CDC travelers' health Web site is http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
Read here more about what is safe and what is not in pregnancy and while trying to conceive. Which activities and sports, which foods, which exposures can potentially harm your developing baby?
Are you concerned and worried about what is safe when you TTC and during pregnancy? Being safe is often your main concern when you're pregnant. Find out what's safe and what's not during pregnancy. We can help you get informed. Then relax, because knowing more helps you make the right choices.
Expected ultrasound measurements (mm) based on weeks gestation.
Hadlock Formulas: Haddlock Radiology 1984; 152: 497-501
| Weeks | BPD (mm) | HC (mm) | AC (mm) | FL (mm) |
| 16 | 32.3 | 124.4 | 99.1 | 20.5 |
| 16.5 | 34.2 | 131.2 | 105.5 | 22.1 |
| 17 | 36.0 | 137.9 | 111.9 | 23.7 |
| 17.5 | 37.7 | 144.5 | 118.2 | 25.2 |
| 18 | 39.5 | 151.1 | 124.5 | 26.7 |
| 18.5 | 41.3 | 157.7 | 130.7 | 28.3 |
| 19 | 43.0 | 164.1 | 136.9 | 29.8 |
| 19.5 | 44.7 | 170.5 | 143.0 | 31.2 |
| 20 | 46.4 | 176.8 | 149.1 | 32.7 |
| 20.5 | 48.1 | 183.0 | 155.1 | 34.1 |
| 21 | 49.7 | 189.2 | 161.1 | 35.6 |
| 21.5 | 51.4 | 195.3 | 167.0 | 37.0 |
| 22 | 53.0 | 201.3 | 172.9 | 38.4 |
| 22.5 | 54.6 | 207.2 | 178.7 | 39.8 |
| 23 | 56.2 | 213.0 | 184.5 | 41.1 |
| 23.5 | 57.8 | 218.7 | 190.2 | 42.5 |
| 24 | 59.3 | 224.4 | 195.9 | 43.8 |
| 24.5 | 60.8 | 229.9 | 201.5 | 45.1 |
| 25 | 62.3 | 235.4 | 207.1 | 46.4 |
| 25.5 | 63.8 | 240.8 | 212.7 | 47.7 |
| 26 | 65.3 | 246.0 | 218.1 | 48.9 |
| 26.5 | 66.7 | 251.2 | 223.6 | 50.2 |
| 27 | 68.1 | 256.2 | 228.9 | 51.4 |
| 27.5 | 69.5 | 261.2 | 234.3 | 52.6 |
| 28 | 70.8 | 266.1 | 239.6 | 53.8 |
| 28.5 | 72.2 | 270.8 | 244.8 | 55.0 |
| 29 | 73.5 | 275.5 | 250.0 | 56.1 |
| 29.5 | 74.7 | 280.0 | 255.1 | 57.3 |
| 30 | 76.0 | 284.4 | 260.2 | 58.4 |
| 30.5 | 77.2 | 288.7 | 265.2 | 59.5 |
| 31 | 78.4 | 292.9 | 270.2 | 60.6 |
| 31.5 | 79.6 | 297.0 | 275.1 | 61.7 |
| 32 | 80.7 | 300.9 | 280.0 | 62.7 |
| 32.5 | 81.9 | 304.7 | 284.8 | 63.8 |
| 33 | 82.9 | 308.4 | 289.6 | 64.8 |
| 33.5 | 84.0 | 312.0 | 294.3 | 65.8 |
| 34 | 85.0 | 315.5 | 299.0 | 66.8 |
| 34.5 | 86.0 | 318.8 | 303.7 | 67.7 |
| 35 | 87.0 | 322.0 | 308.2 | 68.7 |
| 35.5 | 87.9 | 325.0 | 312.8 | 69.6 |
| 36 | 88.8 | 327.9 | 317.3 | 70.6 |
| 36.5 | 89.7 | 330.7 | 321.7 | 71.5 |
| 37 | 90.5 | 333.3 | 326.1 | 72.3 |
| 37.5 | 91.3 | 335.8 | 330.4 | 73.2 |
| 38 | 92.1 | 338.2 | 334.7 | 74.1 |
| 38.5 | 92.8 | 340.4 | 338.9 | 74.9 |
| 39 | 93.5 | 342.5 | 343.1 | 75.7 |
| 39.5 | 94.2 | 344.4 | 347.2 | 76.5 |
| 40 | 94.8 | 346.1 | 351.3 | 77.3 |
| 40.5 | 95.4 | 347.7 | 355.4 | 78.1 |
| 41 | 95.9 | 349.2 | 359.3 | 78.8 |
| 41.5 | 96.5 | 350.5 | 363.3 | 79.5 |
| 42 | 96.9 | 351.6 | 367.2 | 80.3 |
Pregnant women are often advised to be on bed rest during pregnancy to treat certain pregnancy complications even there is not much solid scientific evidence that it works in most cases.
Indications for Bed Rest
Types of bed rest
Bed rest will differ from woman to woman and from one indication to the other and also how many weeks along the pregnancy is. Bed rest recommendations may range from just simply "taking it easy," to periodic resting at home to full bed rest and monitoring in a hospital.
Some women will discover that their doctor places them on bed rest for a brief period to help a complication stabilize, whereas other women may be placed on bed rest through most of their pregnancy. Bed rest can be anything from confinement to bed to just taking it easy around the house.
It is important to find out what your doctor means by "bed rest."
Level 1: Taking it easy, taking a break, decreasing your activities.
This might mean taking a break from exercising or sex from a few weeks to the rest of the pregnancy. With this type of bed rest, women need to be able to sit down and rest. This might involve taking a leave from work or getting backup help with the care of children at home.
Level 2: A few hours of bed rest each day.
This level may mean part-time work or taking off work completely, no shopping or carrying groceries. This kind of rest may be recommended for women with mild hypertension or other complications and it may be beneficial if a baby isn't growing well or if there are multiples (e.g. twins, triplets) with a risk of preterm birth.
Level 3: "House Arrest"
This requires taking off work completely, no shopping or carrying groceries. No standing for more than 5 minutes. It's a stricter type of bed rest, where women are essentially confined to the home, and activities are limited to moving around, taking showers, puttering around and mostly resting.
Level 4: Complete Bed Rest
Strict bed rest is prescribed in some cases, which essentially means lying down all day. Sometimes this can be done at home, other times in the hospital getting up might be limited to going to the bathroom, taking a shower, and preparing a simple meal. The strictest forms of bed rest are usually done in the hospital, with a bedpan instead of bathroom privileges and all personal care provided by the hospital staff.
How does bed rest help?
In most cases, bed rest is used to help the body have the best chance to quiet down. Bed rest will be used with women who have conditions related to high blood pressure in order to decrease stress and lower blood pressure. Work, activity, lifting, or exercise may worsen or provoke certain situations, so bed rest may be prescribed to reduce vaginal bleeding or decrease the chance of premature labor. Bed rest may also be necessary (often on your side) to help increase blood flow to the placenta.
What is the best position for bed rest?
The best position for bed rest will depend on your situation and what complication your health care provider is trying to address or prevent. In most cases, your healthcare provider will request that you sleep or rest on your side, usually with your knees or hips bent, and maybe a pillow between your knees. You may be asked to lie on your back while being propped up with pillows or to lie on your back with your hips or legs elevated higher than your shoulders.
How can I deal with bed rest discomforts?
Bed rest will tend to cause your muscles to lose tone and make some of your joints ache. Lying down for long periods of time can also reduce your blood circulation. Changing from side to side will help stimulate your muscles and relieve pressure. Exercise is important for your blood circulation, but make sure that you visit with your health care provider before you begin any exercises. Below are common exercises that may be used:
Consult with your doctor about the best ways for you to get exercise in your situation.
"Do's" and "Don'ts" during bed rest:
The "do's" and "don'ts" during bed rest will vary from woman to woman, depending on your situation and the reasons that bed rest is prescribed by your health care provider. It is important to get a clear understanding of what is allowed during your bed rest period. In most cases, bed rest will require that you avoid lifting, exercise, or any strenuous activity. Here is a list of activities to discuss with your doctorr:
If your bed rest occurs for a long period of time, it is important to discuss exercises or activities that you are allowed to do to keep your blood circulating.
Continue: How to make the very best of bed rest during pregnancy
A homebirth is childbirth in a non-clinical setting. It is a delivery that takes place in a residence rather than in a hospital or a birth center.
In the United States, over 98% of all births take place in the hospital. Only about 1% of deliveries are home births, though about 1/3 of these are homebirths without an attendant, usually family, ambulance, or taxi driver. So much less than 1% of births in the US are planned homebirths.
A planned home birth is usually attended by a certified nurse midwife (about 1/3 of the time) or a "direct-entry" midwife (2/3 of the time) who was not trained as a nurse, such as a CPM or in some US states a licensed midwife.
A recent study by Dr. Grunebaum showed that there is a nearly 4-time neonatal mortality risk with homebirths.
Another study by Dr. Grunebaum showed that home births are associated with over 10-times the risk of Apgar scores of zero (virtually dead babies) when compared to doctor led hospital births and nearly 18-times the risk of midwife hospital births.
Having a baby is mostly about safety, both for baby and mother. Interventions such as cesarean sections can be life saving especially when minutes can make a difference. Cesarean sections are not available in homebirths.
A little over 100 years ago 10 in 100 children died before the age of 1 years of age as compared to today with less than 1 in 100 children dying. Similarly, about 60-90 per 10,000 women died of childbirth related complications as compared to less than 1 in 10,000 today, a more than 99% decrease!
When comparing interventions between hospital and home births, it is important to compare data of uniformally published data on worse neonatal outcomes of the baby during home births. There is unquestionably a higher risk of low Apgar scores and more neonatal deaths and injuries to the baby with a home birth.
Women contemplating a home birth should be made aware that the newborn is over 3 times more likely to die during a home birth, and the risk increases further if this is a woman's first baby or if the pregnancy is over 41 weeks.
In September, Mayor Nutter signed City Council Bill 130922 into law extending the rights of breastfeeding employees in Philadelphia.
Employers must provide nursing mothers with reasonable accommodations to express milk at work.
These reasonable accommodations are for ALL nursing employees and must include a private, clean space, not a bathroom and provide appropriate break time to pump. Failure to comply with this new ordinance can result in fines.
Because of our work supporting workplace breastfeeding efforts, Our Executive Director, JoAnne Fischer and Katja Pigur, Director of Clinical and Breastfeeding Services were invited to speak on behalf of breastfeeding mothers at official bill signing. You can see all of the news coverage on Philly.com and CBS Philly.
First there was Black Friday. Then there was Cyber Monday, and now there is #GivingTuesday, a day for giving back. Started in 2011, #GivingTuesday encourages individuals to support their favorite nonprofit this holiday season.
This year, we partnered with Ten Thousand Villages to raise money in support of our programs. Eight Ten Thousand Villages locations including Delaware and New Jersey came together for a community shopping event in which we received 15% of the sales. Additionally, a donor has agreed to match up to $4,000.
You can read more about our partnership and other activities that took place in the Philadelphia Business Journal and on WHYY.
Earlier in April, the blogosphere was set on fire when former NFL quarterback and current WFAN commentator Boomer Esiason commented on the paternity leave of New York Mets’ player Daniel Murphy.
Esiason said “Quite frankly, I would’ve said, ‘C-section before the season starts. I need to be at opening day,” in response to Murphy’s decision to take time off, including opening day to be with his wife during the birth of their child. Much of the criticism Esiason received was around the rights of any father to take time off to be with his family during childbirth. However what was lost in the conversation was the risks associated with having elective c-sections.
Recently Karen Pollack, Director of Programs and Bette Begleiter, Deputy Director, wrote a blog post for the Philadelphia Inquirer about the dangers elective c-sections pose to both mother and baby.
In June, the popular Netflix series, Orange is the New Black returned for its second season. The show follows Piper, who was sentenced to 15 months in a federal penitentiary for drug trafficking. Her time in the all-female correctional facility is spent with other women who are there for a variety of crimes. Included in the cast of recurring characters is a pregnant inmate. For us, we face the reality of Orange is the New Black everyday through the women and families we serve through our MOMobile at Riverside Correctional Facility program. There are approximately 20-40 pregnant women incarcerated in Philadelphia at any time. However, their stories don’t end when the director shouts “cut.” It’s a daily struggle and the effects for mom and baby can be felt for years to come.
The majority of women in Philadelphia jails are mothers. Women who are pregnant at the time of their incarceration frequently have high‐risk pregnancies stemming from histories of physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol use and mental health conditions. At our MOMobile at Riverside program, we work to address these issues by providing health education and support to the woman and her family during incarceration and up to one year after release. When it is time for mom to give birth to her baby, we also provide Doula or labor support. Sometimes we are the only familiar face in a sea of white coats and uniforms. After the baby’s birth, he or she will often be cared for by a family member. We support these caregivers by providing them health education about the development of the baby and connecting them to resources in the community that will help improve the health and wellbeing of the baby and mom when she returns home. You can read one story below:
I became Michelle’s doula through the MOMobile at Riverside program. One part of my job is to advocate for the mother’s needs during labor and be there as inmates are separated from their babies. When separated, I facilitate the link between mother, child and caregiver, bringing news, pictures and resources.
Michelle is an inmate at Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF). She entered RCF pregnant. Early pregnancy scans had shown developmental problems and although doctors had searched for an answer, it soon became clear that her baby would not survive. Michelle was given a choice to undergo a C-section, ending the pregnancy, or to allow the baby to develop fully and to wait for labor to start. She chose the latter, so that she could hold her baby and mourn its loss.
Michelle was not permitted family support during the birth so my role was critical– I was all she had. After a series of false labors, by the time I arrived, the baby had passed and Michelle was cradling her child, having given birth alone. I stayed with her and comforted Michelle long after the child was taken away.
However brief, with the help of MOMobile, Michelle was able to follow the path that she wanted and was able to celebrate the life of her child in the way that worked for her. As her doula I was able to advocate for her, and then to help her come to terms with what had happened, if just holding her hand and reminding her that she was not alone. Several hours later, I was back to support another client who was giving birth to twins. After laboring, with my support, she gave birth to a healthy boy and girl.
Maybe that is a doula’s role. I am a witness to a full life cycle and everything in between.” Saleemah McNeil, MOMobile at Riverside Advocate.
Once mom is released from jail, our support continues for up to one year. We assist her in reconnecting with her child, establishing a home and accessing community resources so that mom and baby can be reunited. The work we do during incarceration ensures that a strong connection can begin even during the time the mom and baby are apart. We find when women are connected to their children, they are less likely to return to prison.
While Orange is the New Black has done an enormous amount to show the experience of incarcerated women, real life is much more challenging. Having a program like the MOMobile at Riverside can make a huge difference for women when they give birth, separate from their child and then return to their communities and families after release.
By Katja Pigur - Director of Clinical Services and Breastfeeding, MCC
Mother’s milk is the best nature has to offer and the healthiest first food for babies, critical for the development of healthy individuals and communities. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics have identified breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding, ideal for fostering nutritional, immunological and emotional health. The short and long-term health advantages for babies include protection against illnesses and diseases, such as ear infections, Bacterial Meningitis, gastrointestinal infections, lower respiratory infections, Asthma, obesity, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. For mothers, breastfeeding in the short term is associated with decreased postpartum bleeding, quicker returning to pre-pregnancy weight, and decrease in the likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression. Long-term benefits have been associated with a risk reduction in breast and ovarian cancer, and Type II diabetes.
Yet despite all these benefits, Philadelphia’s breastfeeding rate is unacceptably low. At 62.2%, it is 14.8% lower than the national average of 77% at delivery [i] and drops to 28.9% after six months compared to 43% nationally.[ii]
So what are the barriers that prevent women from achieving their breastfeeding goals? The factors which impact a woman’s decision whether or not to breastfeed can be layered and complicated. A lack of breastfeeding role models in the community, social and familial pressures, history of trauma and abuse, poor access to information, resources and support or lack thereof can all result in poor breastfeeding outcomes.
Many healthcare providers are ambivalent about breastfeeding, sometimes as a result of personal experiences or simply because they received no or inadequate breastfeeding education during their professional training years. Poor breastfeeding policies and practices at birthing hospitals coupled with a lack of access to affordable qualified breastfeeding support services after hospital discharge also impacts a woman’s ability to achieve her breastfeeding goals.
Mass media and advertising does not help combat the issue either. When it comes to infant feeding, you mainly see images of babies with a bottle or parents shopping for formula. Rarely do you see an image of a woman breastfeeding, giving the perception that nursing your child is not a commonly desired or preferred feeding option. With all of these various issues at play, it is not surprising that many women cannot see themselves breastfeed, lack the confidence to do so, or, if they do, give up quickly.
The good news is that in Philadelphia big changes are happening, paving the way for a healthy start for our youngest citizens. One of those significant changes is that all Philadelphia birthing hospitals stopped giving out free formula samples to new mothers at discharge. Research shows that mothers who receive infant formula samples have a shorter exclusive breastfeeding duration and are less likely to breastfeed exclusively. With the city-wide removal of discharge bags with free formula samples, the hospitals make a joint statement that marketing practices that undermine successful breastfeeding and negatively affect the health of vulnerable women and children have no place in healthcare settings. But this is not the only step hospitals are taking to support breastfeeding. Eliminating those discharge bags is part of a bigger transformation plan. Most of our city hospitals have formally committed to becoming a breastfeeding friendly hospital in a more comprehensive way by pursuing the “Baby Friendly” designation awarded by the national organization Baby Friendly USA. Hospitals achieve this designation by complying with the “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” developed by global health experts.
It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes all of us to support breastfeeding. You can help us make Philadelphia a City of Motherly Love! During World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2014, we invite you to make your pledge to support breastfeeding women in your community. In the meantime, MCC will continue to educate the general public and employers about the benefits of breastfeeding and help fostering an environment that makes nursing a baby at the LOVE Park as normal as eating a Philly Cheesesteak. So let’s work together and normalize breastfeeding in Philadelphia, the City of Motherly Love.
[i] Breastfeeding Report Card, United States 2012. Centers for Disease Control, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevent and Health Promotion.
[ii] Breastfeeding Among U.S.Children Born 2007, CDC National Immunization Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/2007/state_any.htm.
Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and baby. From the first feeding, babies are bathed in “liquid gold” which is full of specialized cells and proteins to boost newborns immune system.
Breastfed babies develop fewer ear infections, have lower risks of asthma, allergies and eczema which means parents miss fewer days of work. There are plenty of benefits for moms too. Nursing helps women lose weight, reduce their risk of postpartum depression, and mothers who have breastfed have 10% lower risk of developing heart disease.
You can read more about the benefits of breastfeeding for moms and babies on Philly.com.
The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is not getting any better. In fact, over the last two decades, the number of women dying from childbirth related complications has doubled.
Recently our Executive Director, JoAnne Fischer, participated in a panel discussion around maternal mortality at the 2014 Women in the World Summit. Moderated by Soledad O’Brien, this open discussion looked at the causes and possible solutions that could be implemented in the U.S. to help reduce this problem. You can see JoAnne’s interview with Soledad O’Brien here.
by Amy Romano 
We recently published the results of Listening to Mothers III, the third national U.S. survey of women’s pregnancy and birth experiences. As with previous Listening to Mothers surveys, the latest data show that risky procedures are overused, many beneficial practices are underused, and all too often women lack the support and knowledge required to effectively navigate their maternity care.
We’ve made it easier than ever for you share the survey findings to help improve policy, practice, research, and advocacy.
In addition to sharing the full report, you can share data briefs about preconception health, women’s internet use, differences by race and ethnicity, differences by insurance type, induction of labor, cesarean section, and trends over the last decade.
You can also view and share slides and infographics from the report on Facebook.
