It is disheartening to see the persistent challenges in maternal and infant health with the latest statistics proving women and baby’s health are declining and even more at risk than before. Regardless of the many pregnancy apps, education styles, and research trying diligently to make change and improve outcomes for pregnant women, the statistics have continued to get worse. Does this mean that the current efforts are not working? Reports by March of Dimes and CDC continues to show the current efforts are not working.

The fact that a significant percentage of women with syphilis had none to minimal prenatal care is a critical issue. Lack of access to care, education, and resources appears to be contributing to the problem. The call for community-based programs to get creative is an acknowledgment of the need for innovative approaches to reach and support these vulnerable populations.

According to the CDC, in 2022, a total of 3,761 cases of congenital syphilis in the United States were reported to CDC, including 231 (6%) stillbirths and 51 (1%) infant deaths. Lack of timely testing and adequate treatment during pregnancy contributed to 88% of cases of congenital syphilis. Testing and treatment gaps were present in the majority of cases across all races, ethnicities, and U.S. Census Bureau regions illustrating a missed opportunity for care and the effect on the newborn. Out of the(3,761) congenital syphilis cases reported in 2022, 87.8% of the parents did not receive treatment or had inadequate treatment prior to delivery. Could these worsening numbers be related to the overwhelming gap’s we see in care?

We as OB nurses, have seen the decline in maternal health over the last 20 years. The CDC recommends screening at the first prenatal visit, at the 28 weeks appointment and again prior to delivery.  Unfortunately, according to Statnews, 40% of women who were infected had none to minimal prenatal care, leading to the lack of treatment, so now “community based programs will need to get creative.”

About MB&Sphere

The MB&Sphere OB Nurses are working towards another solution in the group of programs fighting to improve the life of women and children and narrowing the gaps.  Being creative is the defining characteristic of MB&Sphere nurses. Since 2022, our OB Nurses do a deep dive into the core problems of maternal health, relationship and accessibility. MB&Sphere has developed a Mind, Body, Spirit model of care that supports all the aspects of the whole person and their partners. The model is an easy, acceptable way to guide families through the pregnancy, offering interventions to support a healthier mind, guiding care needed for the body, and nurturing the spirit.

Our OB Nurses have worked with a diverse population of families facing a vast array of disparities and have offered nonjudgmental all inclusive care from meeting families where they are, thereby avoiding the idea of getting them to fit into a protocol or system they don’t feel they belong. We accept families as they are and offer a nurturing atmosphere with the support, resources and understanding that the families need to feel safe to learn. This leads to an understanding and allows us to guide them to get the care they need for their improved health and contributes to the possibilities of improving congenital syphilis numbers through the holistic clinical approach MB&Sphere’s offers.