Maternal health is often overlooked but is a crucial focus point in ensuring the health of not only the mother herself but also that of her child. The quality of care that a mother gets while pregnant can create a significant impact on the life and overall health of her baby. Because of the severe effect that early experiences have on life, it is crucial to focus on the wellbeing of the mother before she is pregnant, through pregnancy, and post birth to ensure that she and her child will live a healthy life. While the baby is in utero, both the child and its mother run risks. If the mother cannot get proper care she may not be getting the correct nutrition, she may lack the proper prenatal vitamins, or even be missing crucial check-ups to detect early signs of problems that can most likely be prevented if found early on.
Compared to men and children, women’s health gets the least amount of focus. Women face several obstacles during their entire lives that impact their quality of life and health. As UCLA obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Michael Lu suggests, to improve birth outcomes “we must address the conditions that impact women's health, not just when they become pregnant but from childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.''
Luckily, there are a couple of programs working hard to assist in the processes of improving mother and child’s health from adversities. One of the most common ones is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as the “WIC Program”. WIC provides low-income women with meal programs for both their kids and themselves. One of WIC’s greatest strengths is that it offers help for mothers in all stages of pregnancy from prenatal to postpartum. The WIC program doesn’t just focus on making sure the baby is feed but also insures that the mother and any other older children she may have are also getting the proper nutrition without having to worry about how to pay for it. Through their work and effort, they have been able to reduce the number of child mortality, premature births, and low birth weights. In giving the mother resources and education she is improving her own life and that of her children.
Maternal health is one of the most important aspects of health. The life course begins with the mother, for this reason it is crucial for us to focus on improving her health as a healthy mother leads to happier and healthier children.
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