Bryan Health Launches New Resources to Improve Maternal and Family Health
Bryan Health is launching a pair of new resources to improve maternal and family health: an online screening tool for postpartum depression and teal-colored wristbands for postpartum patients after delivery.
“All parents deserve the best start for themselves and their baby,” said Alexa Lewis, director of women’s and children’s services, Bryan Medical Center. “By strengthening support and education, we can help ensure healthier pregnancies and safer recoveries. This will also help families feel more confident and supported through pregnancy and beyond.”
Postpartum depression is the newest addition to Bryan’s online mental health screenings. The condition can be serious and require support and treatment. It can also increase the risk of early labor, low birth weight, complications before and after delivery and problems breastfeeding.
Depression affects about one in seven women and one in 10 men during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. It can make it difficult to keep up with doctor visits, eat well, sleep properly and provide care for baby. Common symptoms include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless or empty
- Being very tired or having no energy
- Feeling angry, anxious or irritable
- Trouble bonding with baby
Additionally, Bryan is participating in a new program launched by the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC). Postpartum Alert: A Life-Saving Maternal Safety Initiative, is a program to reduce maternal mortality and improve postpartum care throughout the state.
Postpartum Alert employs a visual system in which wristbands are given to postpartum patients to wear during the critical six-week period after delivery. The bands ensure all medical staff and providers are aware of postpartum status during follow-up appointments or for potentially life-threatening complications after birth. For example, a woman experiencing shortness of breath after recently delivering a baby could have a serious condition like blood clots in her lungs.
“We are committed to ensuring every family has the support they deserve before, during and after birth,” said Lisa Vail, system vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, Bryan Health. “Parents can take a screening 24/7, from the privacy of their own home and have greater access to education. This is an important step in improving maternal health across the state.”
Nebraska has the 17th highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. Globally, maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are three times higher than other developed nations. Those statistics underscore the need for awareness and initiatives like these to save lives and improve outcomes.
The postpartum depression screening is free, confidential and available for anyone online. Postpartum Alert wristbands are provided to patients after birth at Bryan Medical Center, Kearney Regional Medical Center, Grand Island Regional Medical Center and Crete Area Medical Center.
For more information and to take a screening, visit BryanHealth.org/MaternalMentalHealth.
