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 Through its Maternity Quality Matters Initiative, Childbirth Connection works to improve the quality of maternity care by impacting policy. "Policy" includes policies at the federal and state levels, and policies of standard-setting organizations, health plans, employers, hospitals and other entities that influence the provision of maternity care. Here is a summary of major work to date through this newest Childbirth Connection initiative with links for learning more. Inside Maternity Quality Matters:Why Maternity Quality MattersDespite the dedication and hard work of many maternity caregivers, the maternity care system is not set up to reliably deliver the care that is optimal for women and babies. Problems include "overuse," "underuse," and variation in care that is unrelated to needs of mothers and babies. Fortunately, there are unparalleled opportunities to improve the situation.Go to Why Maternity Quality Matters  Maternity Care Fact Sheet AvailableA new fact sheet (12/09) summarizes U.S. maternity care trends and figures from the latest federal reports. The fact sheet updates background information in the 2008 Milbank Report on Evidence-Based Maternity Care.Go to Latest Maternity Care Statistics Milbank Report: Evidence-Based Maternity Care (2008)In a new report, senior Childbirth Connection staff members take stock of the U.S. maternity care system and identify opportunities for improvement. Childbirth Connection, the Reforming States Group, and the Milbank Memorial Fund jointly issued the report. A report PDF is available here, and the Milbank Memorial Fund offers complimentary printed copies on request.Go to Evidence-Based Maternity Care Report Health Care Reform Priorities for High Quality, High Value Maternity CareChildbirth Connection has issued its statement outlining steps within health care reform initiatives to high quality, high value maternity care. The statement describes the population involved and the predominant position of maternity care in the U.S. health care system, as well as strategies in nine key areas that would lead to major improvements in maternity care quality and value.Go to Health Care Reform Priorities for High Quality, High Value Maternity Care Transforming Maternity Care ProjectChildbirth Connection's multi-year Transforming Maternity Care project has engaged stakeholders from across the health care system in setting the path toward significant maternity care quality improvement. Two direction-setting reports for generating a high-quality, high-value maternity care system are now published: "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action." The Blueprint implementation phase of the project is under way.Go to Transforming Maternity Care Project Maternity Quality Matters AwardChildbirth Connection's new Maternity Quality Matters Award honors an entity that has achieved significant quality improvement in care for mothers and newborns. The Seton Family of Hospitals won the inaugural award for its impressive and continuing gains.Go to Maternity Quality Matters Award National Quality Forum's Perinatal Care Performance Measure SetThe National Quality Forum has been working with stakeholders from across the health care system to identify and assess perinatal care performance measures and endorse a national standardized measure set to foster maternity care quality improvement. Childbirth Connection's Executive Director Maureen Corry co-chaired the Steering Committee for this project.Go to Perinatal Care Performance Measures Most recent page update: 1/26/2010
© 2010 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. |
News and Features : Health Professionals
New VBAC Guidlines
ACOG has just issued new Guidlines for VBAC. What changed? What continues? We've Moved!
On July 1, 2010, the Childbirth Connection office moved to 260 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016. All other contact information is unchanged. "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" Reports Available
Rising Maternal Mortality
Help Transform Maternity Care!  Please join our efforts to make quality maternity care a top national priority. Your support will help make the transformation possible. View 2010 Supporter Roster 
Updated Maternity Care Statistics Available
US Cochrane Center (USCC)/Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE)
New Mothers Speak Out National Report Released The latest report in Childbirth Connection's Listening to Mothers series is now available. Get an eye-opening look at the reality of life as a mother of young children in the United States, based on national surveys conducted by Harris Interactive. Learn more, get the report Read the Wall Street Journal story and listen to the podcast Download Quick Facts (PDF) Why does the national U.S. c-section rate keep going up? Current research points to an optimal cesarean section rate of 5% to 10%, but 1 pregnant woman in 3 is giving birth by major surgery in the United States. Why the surge and is this safe? A new page - and a PDF handout for journalists, policy makers, students and others - answer these questions. Read more about the rising cesarean section rate New Content!
March/April 2009 evidence column is now available.
Features: National Quality Forum endorses consensus perinatal performance measures; systematic reviews on induction of labor, environmental tobacco smoke and fetal health, and HPV infection and cervical neoplasia Get the column Popular Pages
 Comfort in Labor, by Penny Simkin Penny Simkin, the internationally recognized leader in childbirth education and labor support, shares her wisdom with women, including comfort measures, effective positions, and tips for partners and doulas. Download Comfort in Labor (free PDF) 
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that identifies and addresses social and behavioral factors that affect her health and that of her baby. She should receive information to help her take the best care of herself and her baby and have access to social services and behavioral change programs that could contribute to their health.
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