{"id":3671767,"date":"2025-11-06T16:38:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T21:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/?post_type=story&p=3671767"},"modified":"2025-11-11T10:04:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:04:02","slug":"were-helping-build-a-brighter-future-for-maternal-health-in-america","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/stories\/were-helping-build-a-brighter-future-for-maternal-health-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"We’re helping build a brighter future for maternal health in America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n \n \n Sustainability<\/small>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

\n We’re helping build a brighter future for maternal health in America\n <\/h1>\n

Our Merck for Mothers initiative is partnering to drive change across the country for women who are pregnant through postpartum<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n

November 6, 2025<\/p>\n

\n

Share this article<\/p>\n

\n \nFacebook icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t.st0{fill:#00857C;}\n\n\nX icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \nLinkedin icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \nEmail icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n \"collage\n <\/picture>\n\n <\/figure>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maternal health is a vital sign of a society\u2019s well-being \u2014 one that reflects the strength of our health systems, equity in access and the dignity afforded to every woman in her care journey. Yet with the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations and more than 80% of these deaths deemed preventable, the U.S. lags significantly behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n
Prenatal care<\/div>\n \n
1 in 6<\/div>\n\n
\n

Infants in the U.S. were born to mothers receiving inadequate prenatal care in 2023<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n\n
Postpartum depression<\/div>\n \n
1 in 8<\/div>\n\n
\n

Women in the U.S. with a recent live birth reported symptoms of postpartum depression in 2018<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n\n
Pregnancy-related deaths<\/div>\n \n
669<\/div>\n\n
\n

Women died of maternal causes \r\nin the U.S. in 2023<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Too many women face obstacles at each stage of the pregnancy journey \u2014 but hope is on the horizon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLocal and community-led initiatives are emerging as powerful catalysts for creating a healthier future for all,\u201d said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Ph.D., MPH, Merck’s VP and head of Social Impact and Sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor-Clark and other leaders at Merck for Mothers<\/a>, our company’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life, recently weighed in on “the essential work that remains to drive transformative improvements in maternal health,” in a series for Health Affairs. Below, find key points from each stage of the pregnancy journey \u2014 and learn how their approach to partner with community organizations is making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pregnancy: Laying the foundation for healthier outcomes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Access to quality prenatal care from the start is crucial. Without early and regular visits, women face higher complication risks, and their babies are more susceptible to low birth weight and increased infant mortality.  Merck for Mothers, which has reached more than 34 million women worldwide through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, created the Safer Childbirth Cities<\/a> initiative to address this. The initiative helps 20 city-based coalitions across the U.S. implement strategies to support pregnant people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in New Jersey, where our company is headquartered, the Trenton Health Team<\/a>  provides safe transportation to clinics so women can access crucial prenatal care. In San Francisco, SisterWeb<\/a> doulas are empowering mothers to advocate for themselves and access necessary care. These initiatives are part of a growing national movement setting a precedent for broader, transformative change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safe delivery: Vital solutions for improving maternal health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More than half of pregnancy-related maternal deaths occur after delivery, often because of latent co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A significant challenge is lack of awareness about postpartum risks and warning signs. To combat this, the Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, supported by Merck for Mothers, has launched the Post-Birth Warning Signs<\/a> education program, equipping health care providers, parents and families with crucial knowledge about post-delivery complications, empowering them to act swiftly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simultaneously, efforts like the Hear Her<\/a> campaign are amplifying women’s voices, raising awareness about the importance of speaking up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postpartum: Navigating challenges with comprehensive support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The postpartum period, especially in the first 12 weeks \u2014 also coined the “fourth trimester” \u2014 is a time of not only physical recovery but also substantial emotional and social adjustment. The needs of mothers during this period are often overlooked, with limited access to mental health resources exacerbating the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efforts are being made to strengthen screening for perinatal mood disorders. For instance, the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, in part through support from Merck for Mothers, developed The Lifeline for Moms Perinatal Mental Health Tool Kit<\/a>, a comprehensive resource with actionable information, algorithms and clinical insights to help obstetric providers effectively address perinatal mental health conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic factors can further intensify postpartum challenges. With support from Merck for Mothers, Baby2Baby<\/a> is expanding its maternal health and newborn supply kit program, providing essential items like diapers and breastfeeding supplies. By easing financial burdens, the organization helps enable mothers to focus on their health and their baby\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The path forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Transforming maternal health requires more than medical intervention \u2014 it requires a cultural and systemic shift toward wraparound, person-centered care at every stage, plus collective action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Working together, we can create a system that truly values and helps protect the health of all mothers.\u00a0It’s\u00a0essential to focus not only on supporting health\u00a0care providers but also on supporting friends, family, and the broader community\u2014the entire village of care surrounding pregnant women.”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n