Maternal Health

A Mediaplanet Guide to Supporting Reproductive Healthcare

Maternal Health

Emily Skye Read how this fitness maven rediscovered body positivity through pregnancy

Discover the app creating a safe space for women to connect throughout all stages of motherhood Check out one amazing new way to test for ovulation

SEPTEMBER 2021 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

ADVERTORIAL

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Improving Maternal Care Across All Demographics Maternal health is at the intersection of women’s rights, reproductive rights, health justice, and social justice. It is an issue with which we all must wrestle and, shockingly, the United States has the worst maternal health outcomes among high-income nations.

he healthcare system in the United States is not equitable.

Access to care varies by income level, geographic location, type of insurance, race, ethnicity, and employer. Standard hospital care of birthing people does not meet the needs of many expecting and new families. Many people prefer midwifery care and doula support, but do not have access to these. Many do not have a choice of methods of pain relief or for other care preferences.

Too many have cesareans that they don’t need or want. Discrimination during delivery and heartbreaking accounts of doctors and nurses not listening to people who know their bodies create unnecessary stress for new parents and their families, often with tragic outcomes .

Expanding care Improving maternal care includes ensuring that all parents have access to such family-friendly services as midwifery care, community birthing cen-

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Carol Sakala Director for Maternal Health, National Partnership for Women & Families

ters, and doula support. Each of these prioritizes safe, respectful, individualized care and support.

Employers, health plans, Medicaid agencies, Congress, and state legislatures all have a role and responsibility in expanding access to these exemplary forms of care. Parents and families can speak up and tell their employers, health plans, and elected officials that they need and want these high-value services.

Real-world examples The National Partnership for Women & Families investigated four community-based maternal health organizations in different states for their impacts, effectiveness, culturally-sensitive and

relevant care, and reach. Commonsense Childbirth in Florida, Mamatoto Village in Washington, D.C., Breath of My Heart Birthplace in New Mexico, and Mana Sana Vibrant Woman in Texas all offer support and clinical services that are tailored to the needs of communities. Services include midwifery care, postpartum support, prenatal care, birth companions, and parental counseling.

These programs positively impact their respective communities.

Similar groups are arising across the country to meet the needs of childbearing families.

Moving forward Equity is core to this conversation. To close unacceptable gaps in maternal and infant health outcomes between families of color and white families, we must improve the quality and experience of maternity care.

We must also recognize the important effects on maternal and infant health of social circumstances — such as the neighborhood we live in or whether we have access to paid family leave. n

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PLEASE RECYCLE

Publisher Samantha Jahoda Business Developer Katie Konf ino Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Tiffany Pryor Designer Kayla Mendez Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Kathleen Walsh Director of Content and Production Jordan Hernandez Cover Photo Emily Skye FIT All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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The next big advancement in women’s health

As a new global women’s healthcare company with a focus on reproductive and maternal health, Organon is giving women the opportunity to be heard.

We commit to listen to women, so that we can better understand their needs. Because health starts when we hear her.

We’re ready to listen.

Take the mic and share your voice at HereForHerHealth.com Copyright © 2021 Organon group of companies. All rights reserved.

One Fitness Expert’s Journey With Body Positivity Through Pregnancy

Human milk builds a foundation for lifelong health and wellness, but there are societal challenges that make it harder for parents to breastfeed.

What increases the likelihood of success?

Medical and public health authorities recommend exclusive human milk feeding for about six months with continued breastfeeding after the introduction of complimentary foods. Eighty-four percent of infants receive human milk at birth, but parents often encounter barriers that make them stop sooner than they intend. Our workplace, healthcare, and social systems fail families, and parents bear the burden. We need policy changes to ensure that every parent that chooses human milk feeding has the support and resources to succeed.

Parenting happens in community.

Extended family, health and child care providers, workplaces, and others can help make breastfeeding easier. Visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health website to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, how to find lactation support, your rights in the workplace, and more.

How can you help?

Babies feed frequently. Don’t be surprised to encounter a baby feeding at the breast or chest. If you are a friend or family member, offer encouragement or a comfortable place to sit. If you are an employer, become familiar with state and federal guidelines and be proactive in seeking solutions for your lactating employees. If you own a shop, display a “breastfeeding is welcomed here” decal in your window.

Everyone can encourage policymakers to implement legislation to make human milk feeding an easy and sustainable option for families. Find tools to connect with your Members of Congress on the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee advocacy webpage.

These simple demonstrations of support help normalize breastfeeding and create a welcoming environment. Together we can support individual families, while supporting the public health of all families across the United States.

Nikia Sankofa, Executive Director, U.S. Breastfeeding Committee

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Australian fitness expert Emily Skye on how to stay in control of your body during pregnancy and beyond.

Model and personal trainer Emily Skye knows the importance of staying in shape. Now that she’s a mother of two, she’s still working out, but sees herself through a different lens.

“Focusing on what my body does, rather than how it looks, is something I’ve learned to do a lot since my first pregnancy,” Skye said. “I used to always preach it before, but I really believe in it even more now, especially after your body goes through something like being pregnant, which is quite a dramatic change in how your body looks.

“I try not to be as picky with my body,” explained Skye. “I’m not looking at myself as critically.

I used to be so focused on every little thing and trying to be perfect.

Now, after having kids, I know that doesn’t exist, and I’m far from perfect, but that doesn’t mean my body isn’t amazing and beautiful.”

READ MORE AT FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

PHOTO: EMILY SKYE FIT

How to Make Breastfeeding Easier for New Parents

Overcoming postpartum depression If you’re a new mother who’s feeling sad, Skye says you’re not alone.

“After having Mia, even though I knew I had everything I wanted, I remember thinking, ‘I’ve wanted a baby for so long, and now I’ve got a baby and she’s perfect, and I have such an amazing life, but why do I feel so down and so isolated?’” she shared, adding that she had a lot of help in getting through this time. “I’m really lucky and grateful I had such a strong support system around me. When I felt this the second time, I gave birth, I reminded myself this feeling is temporary, and these feelings will pass.”

Skye wants other new parents experiencing this kind of depression after giving birth to know that what they’re feeling is common and not to be afraid of asking for help. “Don’t be ashamed of your feelings because it’s quite common to have the baby blues or postnatal depression. I highly recommend reaching out to a professional or someone you trust when this happens. Don’t try to keep it to yourself,” she advised.

Body positivity and social media While logging into Facebook and other platforms can lead to feelings of insecurity, Skye sees more women choosing to post more realistic content and how they really feel about their bodies.

“If I see something that’s triggering, I ask myself ‘why?’. We can’t completely control everything external. Educate yourself on why things are making you feel certain ways, and always remind yourself that some people still do just post their highlight reels online, and there are apps that make people look certain ways, and that’s not real. Focus on yourself and your own happiness and health.”

Working out while pregnant Created with a team of women’s health experts, Skye’s FIT Pregnancy program is tailored for each trimester, and is designed for women who have exercised regularly prior to becoming pregnant.

“With the right guidance and approvals from your doctor, it’s absolutely safe to continue exercising during pregnancy,” said Skye. “Despite what many people think, both cardio and strength training are achievable for women at this time.”

Exercise can boost your mood and energy levels by releasing endorphins. It also helps you sleep better, tackle incontinence, and can reduce back aches.

“Maintaining strength and endurance will also prepare you for labor and keep you ready for all that lifting and carrying when the baby arrives.”

And when that happens, says Skye, “It’s the feeling that you can care for these little people, and you cuddle and kiss them, and you just feel whole. It’s almost unexplainable. Your heart is full.” n Cindy Riley

SPONSORED

Women need safe spaces online to connect with other women while navigating fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. That’s why Michelle Kennedy launched Peanut, a free app providing access to community for women to ask questions, find support, and connect with one another.

Tell us about your story.

What inspired you to create the Peanut platform?

The inspiration came when I was expecting my first child in 2013, Finlay. At the time, I was Deputy CEO at Badoo and on the board at Bumble, helping people to make connections, friendships, and relationships across the world. I was entering the completely new world of motherhood and I have to admit, I felt very lonely. Unable to find a space online for women to connect and discuss their shared expe-

riences, I decided to solve the need myself and Peanut was born.

You felt isolated as a new mom.

Why is it important to support women who may feel isolated too?

When I had Finlay, my friends weren’t at the stage where they were having children yet. I was desperate to meet other women who not only shared my interests but were also experiencing motherhood themselves. Lockdown has only exacerbated this dilemma for new and expectant mamas.

Loneliness can be a dark and tough time. And it isn’t easy to admit that you’re feeling lonely or lost. I really struggled with it. Being able to ask questions and share experiences with other women gives you validation and helps you know that you’re not alone. I know having a support network like Peanut would have been a game changer for me, especially during those early stages.

Why is it so important for women to have safe spaces online?

PHOTO: PEANUT

The Woman Creating a Safe Space Online for Women to Navigate Motherhood

Sensitive content filters flag and mask content that could be triggering to some users. For example, if you are trying to conceive, it is very triggering to scroll through a number of pregnancy announcements or pregnancy related content.

The Peanut platform has content for all stages of motherhood.

How is this platform different from other places online?

We’ve worked hard to create a space where women feel safe enough to engage in raw and honest conversation. In order to make sure that every woman on the app feels this continued sense of security, safety and moderation is in our DNA. Every user has to provide a verified selfie upon registration. This prevents bad actors from coming onto the platform and holds users accountable.

Encouraging a supporting environment extends beyond onboarding. We ask everyone in the community to agree to Peanut’s Community Guidelines — which outline a zero-tolerance policy towards any hate speech, racism, bigotry, and abusive behavior of any kind.

Using AI, we are able to facilitate positivity and monitor activity.

Women need a space to be seen, heard, and feel supported online. Other social platforms have traditionally been built with the paradigm of status, the idea that status is earned based on followers or likes. Because marginalized communities are not accounted for, platforms end up in an endless loop of having to build reactive tools for bad behavior.

For many, social media can feel like a toxic and abusive relationship. We’re here to change that, working tirelessly to build safer spaces online for women at all stages in life.

One user said: “Just knowing there are other women in the world going through the same feelings/emotions as you, makes you feel you are not alone.”

Tell us about the Renaming Revolution?

The Renaming Revolution is our mandate to call out the outdated terminology that women experience throughout fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood that leave women feeling degraded and dejected; terms like “inhospitable womb,” “geriatric pregnancy,” “spontaneous abortion,” or “advanced maternal age.” With the help of industry experts, we created a new glossary of terms that empowers women and reflects modern motherhood. n

Find your safe online community at www.peanut-app.io

MEDIAPLANET

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ADVERTORIAL

Do your homework Choose the right center, and then choose the right physician. When you pre-interview a potential physician, are they listening? Are they offering options for tests that can help determine why you haven’t gotten pregnant? The difference is all about their approach. Are they looking at your individual situation and evaluating everything before simply rushing into IVF? Understand what each procedure does and what it means in the context of your treatment plan. For example, significant advances in genetic testing of embryos drastically reduces the chance of chromosomal abnormalities leading to failure. Other tests evaluate causes associated with endometrial defects like adenomyosis, endometriosis, or even simple infections.

Weigh cost versus reward The average cost of a single IVF transfer is over $12,000. It takes an average of two and a half cycles for success. That’s more than $25,000 plus, importantly, the emotional pain of at least one failure and the physical cost of going through a second IVF cycle. Going into your first consult armed with information on workups pre-transfer is critical.

Look into tests that are cost effective and may uncover a significant biological issue affecting success. ReceptivaDx™, for instance, is designed to identify uterine inflammation, most likely caused by endometriosis, the leading cause of unexplained infertility. If positive, several treatment options are available prior to IVF transfer that will greatly increase the chance of a live birth. Outcome’s data shows a more than 50 percent increase in the chance of success after treatment.

Finally, use social media support groups like Facebook, Reddit, and others to vet new technologies and experiences. Your peers are one of your best reference sources.

Christopher Jackson, CEO, Cicero Diagnostics

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How My Family Dealt With the Cost of Infertility

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Despite great advances in IVF technologies, the success rates of a live birth are still only slightly higher than 50 percent. So, what can you do to increase those odds?

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When Contemplating IVF, Educate and Advocate

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When my husband and I learned the cost of infertility treatments, we became discouraged in our dream of creating a family — until we found a way.

I am sitting in the genetic counselor office after just receiving news that my second child had no heartbeat — just like our first child.

My head is spinning, and I am trying my best to hold it together.

During the discussion that started with the loss of my baby, I learned that the only way to ensure we can have a living child is through IVF and genetic testing.

The possibility of a live child was comforting, but then hearing the cost — around $25,000 — brought back the despair. How were we going to afford this? I was working full time as a 5th grade

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teacher and my husband was working at a startup company.

Our insurance would not cover anything related to infertility. I didn’t directly know of anyone

When you are in the dark place that is infertility, it is important to not lose the spark of hope.

who had gone through IVF. The feeling of loneliness set in immediately. Who could I talk to that would understand? Are there any resources out there?

After talking to many family

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members and friends, we found out about a grant that was connected to a local university hospital. It was a relief to find a way, but it still felt like a long road. The grant included a home study, similar to going through an adoption.

It was a big undertaking, but we were eventually chosen for the grant. This was just the beginning of our journey. Seven years and several IVF cycles later, we finally welcomed our daughter. Three years later we added twins.

When you are in the dark place that is infertility, it is important to not lose the spark of hope. If you are experiencing anything similar and are feeling lost with an infertility diagnosis, please consider looking into many of the resources that are out there. n Laura Mendenhall, Board Member, The Hope for Fertility Foundation

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arbara Collura of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, argues that infertility and fertility treatments are reproductive healthcare in the same way that pregnancy prevention is reproductive healthcare. So why have medical procedures to treat infertility in both women and men, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) been ignored when it comes to insurance coverage?

For whatever reason, fertility treatments haven’t been widely viewed as medically necessary. “The ability to get pregnant and carry a pregnancy to term, I would argue, is a very key part of reproductive health,” Collura said. “I mean, that’s what reproduction is.” Collura pointed out that when any other system

Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover Fertility Treatments?

Infertility is a medical concern just like any other, so activists want to know why it isn’t covered by insurance like any other.

in your body isn’t functioning, you can get treatment covered by insurance no problem.

“If your your cardiac system isn’t working, you’re going to

go to a cardiologist and you’re gonna get treatment, and it’s gonna be covered. So why is it that the reproductive system isn’t the same way, when it’s

not working properly and you go to the doctor and there’s medical treatments that can help you? Why wouldn’t that be covered?”

IVF has been around for decades, and is known to be common, safe, and effective.

Yet because of the high costs associated with it, it is only easily accessible to a small segment of the population.

This also leads to misguided perceptions about which demographics are most affected by infertility.

“Because this isn’t widely covered by insurance, the people who are able to access it are the ones who have the out of pocket funds to cover it,” Collura said. “And so, you have this view of who is infertile as being a middle to upper middle class, perhaps white, perhaps urban, woman. While I’m not saying that those women don’t have infertility, they are not the only ones that have infertility.” n Lynne Daggett

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