Maternal health in the U.S. is facing a growing crisis. In recent years, maternal mortality rates have nearly doubled, from 17.4 in 2018 to 32.9 per 100K live births in 2021, with higher risks concentrated among Medicaid-eligible populations.1,2 Nearly 1 in 4 women don’t begin prenatal care in the first trimester, and 40% of new mothers skip their postpartum checkup altogether.3,4 To encourage early and consistent engagement in care and empower women and families with trusted information throughout their pregnancy journey, UnitedHealthcare launched an English-language and Spanish-language national maternal health education campaign.
Prioritizing early and consistent care
The campaign is an opportunity to foster better health outcomes among pregnant women by encouraging them to seek prenatal care sooner and follow up with postpartum care. The goal is to improve early patient engagement by increasing awareness of the signs of pregnancy, encouraging prenatal care, postpartum follow-up and providing tools and education that make it easier for women to understand when and how to seek care. This information is important for individuals who may face challenges such as substance use issues, housing instability, limited access to education, language barriers and more.
Messaging for real-life challenges
The campaign’s messaging addresses realities many women face during pregnancy and the postpartum period including:
- Timely care: As soon as you think you are pregnant, call your doctor.
- Early prenatal care and postpartum checkups: Your provider will support you to create a care plan that is best for you.
- Whole-person care: Your early prenatal care as well as follow-up visits help manage risks to your physical and mental health, while supporting recovery.
- Available support: If you do not have a doctor, call the number on your health insurance card.
The campaign drives the public to UnitedHealthcare’s EveryPregnancy.com, a site featuring important resources about the pregnancy timeline, a list of questions to ask providers, mental health information, self-care guides and a quiz to build knowledge on pregnancy. A brand-new prenatal appointment checklist is also available to help expecting families navigate their pregnancy journey with more information and less surprises.
Sources
- Maternal mortality in the United States (2024, April). American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Coventry, M. (2022, June 30). Reducing risk of maternal health problems among Medicaid patients could have additional benefits in reducing disparities. University of Minnesota.
- Prenatal Care (2024, January). March of Dimes.
- You Postpartum Checkups (2023, September). March of Dimes.
- Prenatal and Postpartum Care (2025). NCQA.
