Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is now providing bracelets with the phrase “I Just Delivered” to all new mothers upon discharge from the facility. The blue bands are designed to remind families and healthcare providers that the wearer has recently delivered and should be considered “at risk” for postpartum complications. The program is designed to raise awareness of the serious complications new mothers can sometimes face after childbirth.
“Kentucky has one of the nation’s highest rates of maternal deaths, and racial disparities are contributing to this unfortunate trend,” said Brittany James, director of women’s services for Owensboro Health. “By teaching people to pay extra attention to the new moms in their lives, we can save lives and improve the quality of postpartum care in our community.”
OHRH advises new moms to wear their bracelets for at least 6 weeks after childbirth, although patients can be considered “at risk” up to 12 months later. The bracelets alert everyone who comes in contact with the wearer — family members, healthcare providers, community members — to watch for signs of an obstetrics-related medical condition. Warning signs can include chest pain, seizures, breathing difficulties, heavy bleeding, thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, headaches, fever, and extreme pain.
According to a CDC study, Kentucky’s 2018-2021 mortality rate for pregnant or postpartum women (within 42 days of childbirth) was 38.9 out of 100,000. Research also indicated that 91 percent of maternal deaths in 2018 year were considered preventable, according to OHRH.
“Risk factors such as tobacco use, lack of transportation, and access to care have a major impact on postpartum health, and we all have a role to play in addressing these concerns,” James said.
Last year, more than 2,100 births took place at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
