Venus Standard is part of the expert team behind the 4th Trimester Project.
(certified nurse-midwife), M.S.N.
(masters of science in nursing), A.P.R.N.
(advanced practice registered nurse), and L.C.C.E.
(Lamaze certified childbirth educator).
Their children will now grow up without their mother.
Historically, its been:You had a baby.
Thats the end of that.
But a lot can happen emotionally, mentally, and physically in those first six weeks.
Also, a lot of moms dont even get into that six-week visit.
When people dont make it to those visits, their health can go by the wayside.
The baby usually comes with Mom, so we can get eyes on her as well.
Those health issues can cluster and go out of control.
Some people are private and dont want to say when theyre in need, especially at a doctors office.
Having these extra visits means you have somebody checking that moms are doing okay.
Care should be holistic, so we take a holistic approach when evaluating how shes doing.
Is she getting what she needs to be able to function not as one, but as two?
Is she suffering frompostpartum depressionor does she have baby blues, which are normal?
Did she have an uncomplicated birth?
Does she have other comorbidities she needs to manage?
What about birth spacing and her contraceptive needs?
Does she have enough food and enough transportation?
Does she have family support?
If she has other children, is she hooked up to childcare?
All of those things can impact a moms health.
Its also about the quality of care, especially for black women.
Unfortunately, maternal mortality in the African American community isthree to four times higherthan in white communities.
This is part of why we have a unique approach to continuity in our family medicine group.
Then theres the fact that, overall, we need more health care providers of color.
In this case, what you dont knowcanhurt youand others.
Apples arent apples when it comes to black moms.
Its just not the same.
It cant be one-size-fits-all.
It can be done with the proper tools and proper knowledge.
No one wants to have people dying in their practice.
I go to a lot of conferences around the country, even around the world sometimes.
Fortunately, Im noticing more and more people are talking aboutmaternal mortality and morbidity.
But we still have to do more and do better.
