priorities

Decrease maternal deaths, including suicide. There’s a critical gap in care for birthing people from the birth of their baby throughout the postpartum period. Two-thirds of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period and 60-70% of maternal deaths are preventable. Suicide is the main cause of death in the postpartum period and accounts for 20% of postpartum deaths. 

Prioritize services for Black women. Because of an unjust and racist healthcare system, maternal mortality among Black women is four times that of white women. MAMA will be focusing efforts on birthing people and caregivers in MA, prioritizing Black birthing people and caregivers regardless of age and circumstances. 

Reduce the longevity of perinatal mood disorders and crisis situations by increasing timely access to supportive services to reduce isolation, stress, and other contributing factors to mental health disorders. One in five women is extremely anxious postpartum, one in seven women can develop depression postpartum, and there are other significant challenges such as postpartum psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, which are knowingly underreported.

Advocate for more frequent, comprehensive, and equitable postpartum care. After birth, nationally, there is one six week appointment. In 2016, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed their guidance to include more frequent and comprehensive care; however, such guidance has not been widely implemented by practitioners and clinics. Furthermore, not one institution is willing to take responsibility for birthing people during the postpartum period.