UCSD Health's new program helps moms navigate critical postpartum care
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UC San Diego Health doctors have created a new "fourth trimester" program to improve access to postpartum care and help boost follow-up visit rates.
Why it matters: The program coordinates care for mother and baby, so parents don't have to decide which health issues (for themselves or their newborn) to prioritize during a stressful, exhausting time.
How it works: The Fourth Trimester Program acts as a hub, linking care to alleviate the additional stress of navigating the system, which can reduce hospital readmissions, according to Ukachi Emeruwa, a perinatologist at UCSD Health who co-created the program.
- A joint postpartum-newborn clinic allows moms and infants to get care in the same visit and have future appointments at the same place and around the same time. The assessments cover blood pressure checks, wound care, family planning, lactation, growth checks, jaundice, sleep issues and more.
- New moms are also connected to in-house and at-home lactation support, mental health providers, pelvic floor physical therapy, and in-home doulas.
Between the lines: Since most maternal deaths happen after delivery, without proper monitoring, moms are "at risk of something creeping up that they were forced to ignore," Emeruwa said.
- That's particularly true for those who have less social, familial and financial support, don't have extended parental leave, or have limited transportation options.
"Peoples' bodies are still very susceptible to a lot of complications without the same degree of oversight, insurance coverage and resources that we built up during pregnancy," Emeruwa said.
The program launched in January, and the team is continuing to build out services.
- It was partially funded through a $300,000 grant from the Prebys Foundation, which is tackling some of San Diego's biggest civic issues.
Go deeper: How the health system is trying to improve postpartum care