SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — To ensure all mothers know they are supported, the St. Joseph County Health Department's Maternal and Child Health team is launching a new initiative.
EMBER (Empowering Mothers and Babies through Education and Resilience) provides education and empowers mothers during pregnancy and after birth.
It aims to educate mothers through all stages of pregnancy, as well as provide post-natal support, which is often overlooked.
Health officials believe such a program is needed in St. Joseph County.
“Some of the information we cover is aimed at being a little more comprehensive, not just covering the changes that happen to the body during pregnancy, but also the mental health of the mother, caring for the baby, things to look out for in safe sleep,” said Chakisha Jordan, maternal and child health coordinator.
Jordan said while education will be a priority, there will also be an emphasis on post-natal care, as mothers must also take care of themselves while their bodies recover to care for their babies.
“During pregnancy and after birth, all the attention is on the baby, but no one really cares about the mother, so we wanted to make sure we provided mothers with the resources and tools they needed,” Jordan said.
The initiative was launched following discussions about fetal and infant deaths in the state and county, as well as what mothers need during pregnancy and after birth.
The Indiana State Department of Health released an infant mortality dashboard for St. Joseph County from 2018 to 2022, showing an average of 8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In 2022 alone, the average was 9 deaths per 1,000 births.
Jordan said she wants mothers to feel confident and know they have support and that their needs will be met.
“They felt isolated after giving birth, they didn't get the care they needed early on, they thought health care providers wouldn't listen to them, and they didn't feel educated enough about what was happening to their bodies,” Jordan said.
Jordan said she has experience nursing in high-risk births and has seen how, overall, she missed out on a lot of educational opportunities, so she is grateful for the position she is in.
“We can be on the front lines of providing them with information, letting them know where they can get all of this stuff and providing all the support that mothers need,” Jordan said.
The classes are free and will be held every Tuesday starting Sept. 10 at the Beacon Resource Center.
