PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Advocates with March of Dimes are demanding lawmakers better support Pennsylvania mothers and their babies across the state — and specifically in the Philadelphia region.
“[Pennsylvania] families have the right to easily accessible quality prenatal care that is patient centered and culturally appropriate,” said Melissa Patti with the March of Dimes.
They want state lawmakers to enact policies that would increase access to high-quality, high-value health insurance, and programs that would improve equity to ultimately prevent disease and avoid death related to pregnancy and childbirth.
In the latest March of Dimes Report Card, Pennsylvania received a ‘C’ for its premature birth rate of 9.8%. Factored into the grade is a measurement of the state of maternal and infant health in the U.S.
“And we’re seeing outcomes worsening across the state — such as Lancaster, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery county, Allegheny,” Patti added.
Patti noted that Black women are four times more likely that white women to die during childbirth or experience outcomes like premature childbirth and low birth weight, and that these problems only continue to worsen.
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“Especially in places like Philadelphia, we’re seeing significant racial disparities in pregnancy and birth outcomes.”
She says the county with one of the lowest grades is Philadelphia — it received an ‘F’ for premature birth rate, which was 11.5%.
Patti says these results are due to a lack of resources.
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“We’re seeing hospitals close, labor and delivery floors close and reduction in obstetrical providers.”
Leah Callwood, a mother from the Poconos, says women need more choices and more access.
“I feel like women need to know their options, such as doulas and midwives,” Callwood said. “I personally had a midwife for my pregnancy. I was looking for a more personal approach.”
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“I was looking not to be seen by a lot of doctors and hospitals. My midwife was for me. The complications in my pregnancy – I felt that if I didn’t have a midwife, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
For these reasons, March of Dimes is calling on Harrisburg to enact policies that will improve the state’s maternal and infant health care.
“We’re hoping to inform and educate lawmakers about these issues and outcomes we’re seeing across the state.”