Supporting the Most Important Time in a Family’s Life

We live in an age of stunning medical technological breakthroughs. From targeted therapies that attack cancerous cells but leave healthy cells alone to new medicines to treat MRSA and Parkinson’s and HIV, medicine is advancing every day.
Yet, maternal mortality in the United States has increased by 75% since 2000.

In Tarrant County, the maternal death rate exceeds that of the state average – and Texas is one of the top 10 states in the nation for maternal mortality.  We know there is a disparity in access to affordable healthcare, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. But it goes further than that. According to the December 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Biennial Report, 12% of pregnancy-related deaths were attributable to discrimination. Furthermore, the report determined there was at least some chance for preventability in 90% of the cases reviewed.

So, what can be done to stop new mothers from dying?

Earlier this year, United Way of Tarrant County (UWTC) announced a groundbreaking maternal health initiative – TeamBirth. TeamBirth is a communication and teamwork process that aims to close communication gaps that challenge the safety and dignity of people giving birth. Seven local hospitals within the JPS Health Network, Baylor Scott & White Health, and Texas Health Resources make up the first TeamBirth cohort in the state of Texas. The program will be available in these birthing hospitals starting in January 2025.

TeamBirth, a program developed and rigorously tested by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, calls for a mother’s care team to hold “huddles” with the mother and her supporters at key decision points during her hospital stay. These huddles ensure a mother’s wishes and concerns are heard and noted on a labor delivery planning board, while the clinicians caring for her are understood. In the case of any unexpected changes in the delivery plan, decisions are made by the whole team, including, most importantly, the mother.

According to Ariadne Lab’s website, during TeamBirth’s clinical trials, 93% of clinicians felt TeamBirth improved the birthing process; 90% of nurses, midwives and obstetricians would recommend the program; and, most importantly, 97% of the patients said they had the role they wanted in their birthing experience.

UWTC has focused on improving outcomes for local mothers and their babies for a couple of years as part of the City of Fort Worth Mayor’s maternal and infant health working group and by partnering with organizations like the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL) to train more than 120 individuals to serve as doulas, educating expectant mothers during pregnancy and providing a helping hand postpartum. Through conversations with local families and documented research, UWTC and CPAL discovered doulas are frequently hindered in their efforts to support in hospital settings. This led them to the TeamBirth approach.

Leah King, president and CEO of the UWTC, said, “It’s incumbent on hospitals, organizations like United Way of Tarrant County, individuals and philanthropists to come together to support the most important time in a family’s life. Once we do that, we have a better shot of moms, children and families being healthier.”

Initial support for the UWTC community doula program comes from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds administered by Tarrant County. Additional funding for the UWTC maternal health initiative has been provided by the Paul E. Andrews, Jr. Foundation, Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation, and the Morris Foundation.

UWTC actively seeks funding partners to continue this work with the inclusion of TeamBirth and follow-on programming. For more information on funding opportunities, please contact UWTC at development@unitedwaytarrant.org.