Maternity Care

At an event about pregnancy and maternal health convened by the St. Louis Department of Health on Thursday, a panel of health workers said quality pre- and post-natal health care provided by workers beyond clinical health settings is essential to reducing the state’s maternal and infant mortality rates.

A multi-year report on maternal mortality in Missouri found that women on Medicaid are eight times more likely to die within one year of pregnancy than those with private health insurance. Black women were three times more likely to die than white women.

Eboni Hooper-Boateng found her pregnancy journey empowering. After discovering her experience was an outlier, especially among fellow Black women, she became a doula to offer such support to others.

Bush's testimony was part of a push to pass a package of legislation dubbed the Black Maternal Health “Momnibus” Act.

Several St. Louis health centers will begin working next month to provide long-term residential treatment for expectant mothers in the Metro East who are…

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 4, 2009 - There are no medals of valor for the nation's moms-to-be whose spouses are serving…