Massachusetts COVID-19 Perinatal Coalition

https://www.massperinatal.org/

Mission
To develop policy recommendations for equitable and evidence-based perinatal health care in the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic, to promote systemic, consistent best practices and standards of care and support for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, and to address racial inequities in perinatal outcomes.

Situation
The current situation for birthing people in the Commonwealth is of the utmost concern. Due to the demands of the current pandemic on the health care system, the rapidly changing landscape of hospital policies, limited personal protective resources for providers and birthing people, and so much that is still unknown about transmission and treatment, the environment for birthing people and birthing people of color in particular has never been more precarious. In a landscape of changing and often inconsistently implemented policies, lack of adequate medical resources, and emergency demand on hospitals, the usual care and best practices for perinatal people is currently in constant flux or unable to be met. For brown and black childbearing people who are facing not only higher levels of infection, illness and death from COVID-19, but who also experience maternal mortality at a rate of 2 – 6 times that of their white counterparts, this is an urgent crisis that demands immediate attention. Additionally, 63% of all maternal deaths are preventable. Leadership is necessary to ensure that best practices and latest research are identified, consistently implemented and disparities eliminated for birthing people in the Commonwealth.

Goals
Inform policymakers about the current needs for birthing people in the Commonwealth during COVID-19.

Identify strategies and recommendations for achieving the best possible health outcomes for birthing people and babies.

Engage policymakers, health care providers, industry, and advocates to align efforts to uplift the needs of birthing people and end maternal health disparities in the Commonwealth and implement best health practices and standards of care for all birthing people during the COVID- 19 Pandemic with all due speed.

Resources and Reports
July 2020 “Giving Birth in a Pandemic”