Get Maternity Care Coalition - Momobile

In the early 20th century, new data increasingly revealed high rates of both infant and maternal mortalities, leading to a greater emphasis on prenatal care. These discoveries culminated in the first codification of a prenatal visit schedule in 1930 by the Children's Bureau.

In 1980, a group of Philadelphia health and social justice activists came together over concerns about the well-being of pregnant people and infants. They created Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) and advocated for change with policymakers and decision makers.

Maternity care can be defined as 'the constellation of health services provided by a physician, nurse, midwife, hospital or birthing centre to a pregnant woman during pregnancy (prenatal care), delivery, and after delivery (postnatal care)' (Segen's Medical Dictionary, 2011).

RMC refers to the humane and dignified treatment of a childbearing woman throughout her pregnancy, birth, and the period following childbirth. It respects her rights and choices through supportive communication, actions, and attitudes.

A recent report, titled Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Deserts and the Crisis of Access and Equity, by the non-profit organisation March of Dimes, found that more than 5·6 million women live in areas with low or no access to maternal care, affecting nearly 350 000 births across the USA in 2022.

Members of the maternal and newborn care team educate, support, and care for women and newborns before and throughout pregnancy, during labor and birth, and after birth.