05/05/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/05/2022 09:02
"Motherhood is truly a gift, and I have directed the Department to use every resource available to make a difference where it counts - giving Louisiana moms the support they need to have happy, healthy babies and receive the highest quality care regardless of their background," said LDH Secretary Courtney N. Phillips. "In pursuing these goals, we emphasized coordination across healthcare systems and programs to make sure we achieve goals that deliver tangible results for moms and their babies."
Major progress made in improving birth outcomes
Before the launch of the Business Plan in 2021, it was clear that cesarean delivery rates, at 33%, were too high. While cesarean deliveries can be life-saving procedures, they should be the exception, not the rule.
The Safe Births Initiative's cesarean delivery rate accomplishments reported this Mother's Day are continuations of the Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Initiative. In addition to the reduction of cesarean births, facilities reported over 90% compliance with quantitative blood loss measurement and hemorrhage risk assessment at admission, and over 70% compliance with timely treatment of severe hypertension in 2021.
Collaboration in boosting breastfeeding rates
Strengthening LDH programs that target enhanced breastfeeding practices and quality of care in Louisiana hospitals holds the potential to improve the lives of moms and their babies across Louisiana, and particularly among vulnerable populations that have faced historic barriers. Breastfeeding rates in particular are too low: 70% of Louisiana moms initiate breastfeeding compared to 84% nationally.
The Bureau of Family Health has been working to boost Louisiana's breastfeeding rates through the hospital-based breastfeeding program, The Gift, since 2006. In the revamp of The Gift 3.0, hospitals engage in collaborative learning with the LaPQC; ensuring staff competency in fundamentals of breastfeeding and infant nutrition; report monthly data, including stratification by race; routinely survey moms about their hospital-based education, and complete patient partnership and equity activities.
WIC is working toward improving systems that support breast milk as first food to increase breastfeeding initiation among Medicaid beneficiaries in Louisiana, particularly around peer support.
WIC has exceeded its goal to ensure all regions have adequate WIC breastfeeding peer counselor coverage (defined as greater than 70% of all WIC clinics with a peer counselor assigned), providing 76% of all WIC clinics with a counselor, including coverage for many rural areas that did not previously offer the service.
In addition, WIC has revised and distributed materials to promote breastfeeding resources, such as breast pumps and peer counselor support, including materials available in Spanish; made a mobile app available to participants, called Pacify, that offers 24/7 breastfeeding counseling; and debuted virtual support groups to regions with low breastfeeding rates via Zoom meetings for WIC members.
Breastfeeding rates among WIC participants have increased from 33% in 2020 to 42% in November 2021.
As Louisiana prepares to celebrate Mother's Day, we are reminded that every woman has the right to a safe, equitable birth. Through its work in BFH and WIC, LDH is committed to improving outcomes from pregnancy through childhood.