|
Welcome to ChildbirthConnection.org, your source for trustworthy up-to-date evidence-based information and resources on planning for pregnancy, labor and birth, and the postpartum period. Founded in 1918, Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of maternity care. We promote safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care for all women and families. Learn more About Us and our Programs.
Childbirth Connection has issued a statement outlining health care reform strategies for creating a high quality, high value maternity care system (3/2009). This three-page document describes the childbearing population and the prominent position of maternity care in the U.S. health care system, references current deficiencies, and identifies eight areas where strategic policy attention would improve the quality and outcomes of maternity care for women and newborns and would ensure better value for those who pay for maternity care.
Read the statement about maternity care priorities in health care reform 
 Childbirth Connection held its 90th anniversary policy symposium, Transforming Maternity Care: A High Value Proposition, at Georgetown University in Washington DC on April 3, 2009. Throughout its history, Childbirth Connection has focused on improving the quality of maternity care and addressing best interests of childbearing women and families.
View major milestones over nine decades and current policy focus (PDF)
Learn about Transforming Maternity Care symposium and upcoming Blueprint for Action
 At its 90th anniversary symposium in Washington DC in April, 2009, Childbirth Connection awarded the first Maternity Quality Matters Award to Seton Family of Hospitals. The award, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, honors an entity that has demonstrated significant improvement in maternity care quality. Judges selected Seton Family of Hospitals from among 35 award applicants.
Learn more about the new award, Seton Family of Hospitals, and other applicants
 A new report finds that the U.S. maternity care system falls short, and has even been losing ground, on many quality indicators. Widespread problems include "overuse" -- delivering costly unneeded care with harmful side effects -- and "underuse" -- not providing beneficial, safer care. The good news: many rigorous systematic reviews of research point the way to higher quality care, better outcomes, and good value. The 113-page report was a collaboration among Childbirth Connection, The Reforming States Group, and the Milbank Memorial Fund.
Learn more about Evidence-Based Maternity Care, and read the report
Read the USA Today article
Read companion USA Today article
Read the Consumer Reports story
Take the Consumer Reports quiz
 The newest report in Childbirth Connection's Listening to Mothers series is an eye-opening look at experiences of women with children under 18 months in the United States. Learn about physical and mental health challenges of new mothers; their breastfeeding experiences and the well-being of their babies; their relationships with husbands, partners and others; and their experience of transitioning to employment or staying home with their children. Results are based on national surveys conducted by Harris Interactive.
Learn more about New Mothers Speak Out, read the report and related documents
Help Transform Maternity Care! For the past 90 years, Childbirth Connection has been dedicated to improving the quality of maternity care for all women and their families through research, education, advocacy and policy. Join our continuing efforts to make quality maternity care a top priority for policymakers, public and private purchasers, health care providers, and women themselves. Learn more about Transforming Maternity Care, and please consider a donation to help support it!
View 2009 Supporter Roster
Popular Resources from Childbirth Connection
© 2009 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families.
|
|
