Black Maternal Health Week: Advancing Equity and Support at Kaleida Health

Updated: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 11:45 AM

Black Maternal Health Week: Advancing Equity and Support at Kaleida Health

Every mother/birthing person deserves quality care, support and a safe birthing experience. Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) is a national observance dedicated to raising awareness about disparities in Black maternal health and the urgent need for equitable healthcare solutions. At Kaleida Health, we ensure that every mother/birthing person, regardless of race or background, receives the highest level of care, support and education throughout pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery.

Through our birthing hospitals-Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH), Olean General Hospital and John R. Oishei Children's Hospital (OCH)-Kaleida Health leads initiatives to address maternal health disparities and promote positive outcomes for all families.

What is the NYS Birth Equity Improvement Project?

The estimated maternal mortality rate was 20.1 per 100,000 live births in 2019 and 23.8 per 100,000 in 2020, totaling approximately 861 maternal deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For Black women, the mortality rate was significantly higher at 55.3 per 100,000 live births, representing an estimated 1,800 maternal deaths, the highest of any racial group.

The New York State Birth Equity Improvement Project, launched in 2020 by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative, is a statewide initiative aimed at improving birth equity and reducing racial disparities in maternal health. As an active participant, Kaleida Health implements evidence-based strategies to enhance maternal outcomes and provide safe, supportive care for every birthing individual and baby.

Birth equity means ensuring that everyone has the resources and support they need for a healthy pregnancy and birth, free from racial or social barriers. As part of our commitment, we continuously improve maternal care services and advocate for policies prioritizing equitable health care.

Kaleida Health's Commitment to Maternal Health Equity

Kaleida Health addresses maternal health disparities through innovative programs and dedicated support services, including Baby Cafés, Post-Birth Alert Bracelets, the Regional Perinatal Center and CenteringPregnancy. These programs empower mothers/birthing persons and improve health outcomes for both parents and babies.

CenteringPregnancy: A Community-Centered Approach to Prenatal Care

At OCH's Kensington Women's Health Clinic, Kaleida Health offers CenteringPregnancy, a group-based prenatal care model that fosters education, community and comprehensive health care. This program has been shown to reduce preterm births, increase breastfeeding rates and enhance maternal health.

How It Works: Expecting parents meet regularly in small groups with healthcare providers to receive medical care, learn about pregnancy and childbirth and build a support system with peers.

Access & Availability: CenteringPregnancy is available by referral and covered by insurance, ensuring equitable access for all mothers/birthing persons.

Doula Support: Personalized Birth Advocacy

Doulas play a critical role in supporting pregnant individuals before, during and after childbirth by providing continuous, non-medical emotional, physical and informational support.

Proven Benefits: Doula support is linked to lower rates of medical interventions, shorter labor durations and increased breastfeeding success.

Increased Access: Medicaid now covers doula services, making these invaluable resources more accessible to families across Western New York.

Contact: For more information on doula services and how to arrange for a doula during labor, please contact our maternity team at 716-323-2300.

Breastfeeding Support: Encouraging a Healthy Start

Breastfeeding offers lifelong health benefits for both mothers/birthing persons and babies. At Kaleida Health's birthing hospitals, board-certified lactation consultants provide personalized support to help parents begin and maintain breastfeeding successfully.

Prenatal Education: Expecting parents can attend breastfeeding classes to learn about milk production, infant feeding behaviors and common challenges.

Hands-on Assistance: Lactation consultants offer bedside support in the Mother-Baby Unit, helping mothers/birthing persons establish and maintain breastfeeding.

Baby Cafés: Kaleida Health hosts Baby Cafés, free community drop-in centers where breastfeeding parents can receive peer and professional support in a welcoming environment. Go to https://www.ochbuffalo.org/care-treatment/Maternity-Services/BabyCafe to learn more.

Learn more about lactation services at Kaleida Health at 716-323-1837.

Post-Birth Alert Orange Bracelet Program: Enhancing Postpartum Safety

Postpartum health is just as important as pregnancy care. To improve maternal safety and awareness, Kaleida Health has implemented the Post-Birth Alert Orange Bracelet Program (PBAOB) at MFSH and OCH.

How It Works: New mothers/birthing persons receive an orange bracelet to wear for six to twelve weeks postpartum. This serves as a visual alert for healthcare providers in a medical emergency.

Why It Matters: Postpartum complications such as preeclampsia, blood clots and perinatal depression can arise suddenly. The bracelet helps ensure timely medical intervention when needed.

Patient Education: Mothers/birthing persons and their support teams receive guidance on Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Post-Birth Warning Signs, empowering them to recognize and act on symptoms requiring urgent care.

The PBAOB program provides resources on postpartum risks and education for EMS and healthcare professionals. For more information, contact Caroline Novotny-Schulefand at cnovotnyschulefand@kaleidahealth.org.

For inquiries related to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, please reach out to Tricia Fusillo at TFusillo@KaleidaHealth.org.

Kaleida Health: Leading the Charge for Maternal Health Equity

At Kaleida Health, we are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality and equitable care to all mothers/birthing persons and infants. Through community-driven initiatives, innovative maternal health programs and continuous advocacy, we make meaningful strides in reducing disparities and improving outcomes for Black mothers/birthing persons.

Join us in recognizing Black Maternal Health Week and advocating for a future where all birthing individuals receive the care, education and support they need.

For more information about our maternal health services, visit https://www.kaleidahealth.org/maternity/.