The month of October is designated for awareness of pregnancy and infant loss. Approximately one out of every four women will lose a pregnancy or an infant at least once in their lifetime, with African American and Alaskan Native women being twice as likely as their white counterparts to experience a stillbirth. Socioeconomic factors, maternal healthcare, and other issues all combine to create a discrepancy between races in a situation that’s already heavy with grief and misinformation.
With so many women belonging to this group that no one wants to join, October has now been set aside to honor them and show them that they’re not alone. If you’ve lost a pregnancy or an infant, or you know someone who has, you not only need time to grieve, but you may also have questions about the future of women’s health care. For example, what’s being done to lower the number of women this happens to, and help them bring healthy children into the world.
Now, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The NIH Office of the Director, and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health are moving forward together on a project that may change the numbers and reduce the disparities women are experiencing. The initiative, called Implementing Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE), is designed to look for new ways to protect women of all races and backgrounds when it comes to how they’re treated during their pregnancies, their access to care, and the information they need to take good care of themselves, as well.
The more knowledge of pregnancy and infant loss that goes out into the world, the easier it will be for women to educate themselves on the subject and speak up when they aren’t getting the right support from their doctor or other healthcare professional. Research has shown that maternal deaths during complicated pregnancies are also a concern, and the new initiative has set aside more than $7 million to work with researchers and women in order to help them have better pregnancy care and outcomes.
At the Fertility Institute of San Diego, we take great pride in being a boutique practice, where a single IVF doctor who knows everything about your case treats you at each and every visit. Dr. Hosseinzadeh is present for every appointment and performs all of your ultrasounds and procedures, including egg retrievals and embryo transfers. We combine cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern alternatives such as acupuncture. Contact us today for a complimentary virtual consultation!
