Maternity care is an issue for all women.

The Presidential election cycle, with the high profile of Senator Clinton and Governor Palin, has brought to the forefront women’s issues. In Philadelphia there is a particular women’s issue that reaches all regardless of political persuasion – it is maternity and obstetric care. Sadly this problem has not received the level of attention by local politicians that it should.

On September 9th I attended the public meeting at Chestnut Hill Hospital involving the closure of their maternity unit. With the close of Chestnut Hill’s maternity unit, Philadelphia has lost 15 maternity wards since 1997, just barely 10 years, and leaves many soon-to-be parents an unacceptable distance of more than 15 minutes away from the nearest facility providing pre-natal, birthing and follow-up care. If an expectant mother must use public transportation the time and distance is much worse.

For those that attended, hospital maternity department closings have created obvious concerns for parents in finding a close and safe option for giving birth as well as the increased responsibility imposed on dedicated medical staff in providing quality care. Communities and the government need to start fighting for solutions.

On September 24th I attended the Annual Health Fair at Philadelphia Health Center #10. One of the tables at the fair was the Maternity Care Coalition. I was able to speak to some of the workers about a variety of issues and solutions they have, like MOMmobile (a mobile program that helps low income moms with services and information). Also were discussed a variety of ideas on how to help the maternity situation through increasing services and lowering costs. One way discussed was increasing midwife and doula availability. Additional ways are also to help Level 1 birthing centers (facilities that would have no on site expensive neo-natal equipment, but would have MEDEVAC partnerships with nearby hospitals in a rare case of an emergency) to be able to set up in neighborhoods.

Maternity care is a significant problem right now and will only continue to be in the coming years. We need to work to raise awareness even further and provide parents the choice of birthing options in a safe and comfortable delivery environment.

Adam Lang