As doulas, we know that not all pregnancies result in a health, live birth. For those of us who have supported families facing the unimaginable heartbreak of stillbirth, this news is encouraging as we continue to support families.
In a historic move aimed at addressing an often overlooked issue, President Joe Biden has signed the Stillbirth Prevention Act into law. This legislation marks a significant step forward in the fight to reduce stillbirths and improve maternal health outcomes across the United States.
As you know, for a developed country, the US has overall poor maternal infant health outcomes compared to other developing countries. Despite the resources we have, the accessibility and equity in utilizing these resources can lead to poorer outcomes.
What is Stillbirth?
While pregnancy loss is something 1 in 4 women might experience in their lifetime, the risk of a stillbirth is much lower. However, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 24,000 babies are stillborn each year in the US.
Despite the resources and care we have as a developed nation, stillbirth remains a significant public health issue.
Key Parts of the Stillbirth Prevention Act
The Stillbirth Prevention Act focuses on several critical areas:
- Research and Data Collection: The Act mandates increased funding for research into the potential causes of stillbirth. This includes genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that may contribute to the risk. Enhanced data collection and analysis will help identify patterns and potential preventive measures.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about stillbirth is important. Many families are unaware of the possibility until they are faced with their own loss. The Act supports nationwide campaigns to educate the public, healthcare providers, and pregnant individuals about the risk factors and warning signs of stillbirth. In some situations, early detection and intervention can prevent stillbirth.
- Improved Prenatal Care: The legislation promotes best practices in prenatal care, emphasizing regular monitoring and timely medical intervention. It also encourages the development of guidelines for healthcare providers to better manage pregnancies at risk of stillbirth. Accessibility to prenatal care remains an ongoing issue in some areas of the US.
- Support for Bereaved Families: Recognizing the profound emotional impact of stillbirth on families, the Act includes provisions for better support services. This includes counseling, support groups, and resources to help families cope with their loss.
A Collaborative Effort
The passage of the Stillbirth Prevention Act was a collaborative effort. It’s the result of tireless advocacy by many organizations, healthcare professionals, and bereaved families. Groups such as the Star Legacy Foundation and the International Stillbirth Alliance brought attention to this issue. They also pushed for legislative action. It is an important bipartisan effort among politicians to help ensure this passed.
Presidential Support
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, President Biden highlighted the importance of addressing maternal health disparities and ensuring that every pregnancy has the best possible outcome. He acknowledged the courage of families who have experienced stillbirth and emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting them.
“Every family deserves to have a healthy baby and a safe pregnancy,” President Biden said. “This law represents a significant step towards making that a reality for more Americans.”
Moving Forward With The Stillborn Prevention Act
While the signing of the Stillbirth Prevention Act is a monumental achievement, it is only the first step in continued efforts to improve outcomes. People involved are still needed to implement the law effectively, conduct groundbreaking research, and ensure that healthcare providers have the resources they need to prevent stillbirths in situations where it is possible to prevent.
This legislation also opens the door for further discussions on maternal health, pushing for comprehensive policies that address the broader spectrum of challenges faced by pregnant individuals and their families. With ongoing disparities in maternal healthcare and outcomes, this will hopefully be one of many efforts made to improve outcomes.
By signing this Act into law, President Biden has modeled the importance of caring about our maternal infant health outcomes. We hope to see continued effort among politicians, healthcare providers, organizations, and everyday citizens.
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...