The goal of this initiative is to promote healthy pregnancies through one-on-one partnerships between at-risk pregnant women and medical/ health professions students who can help them navigate the journey to a healthy pregnancy. Students will partner with the EVMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to provide support to expectant mothers by accompanying them to the Supportive Pregnancy Care sessions sponsored by the March of Dimes.
The March of Dimes Supportive Pregnancy Care program is a flexible way to provide prenatal health care and education to a group of pregnant individuals. Supportive Pregnancy Care fosters health literacy and health equity and is unique in that it addresses both social determinants of health and medical factors. This program strives to be culturally relevant to the variety of communities served and is flexible, allowing our students and providers to personalize the care we provide. Students will celebrate successes throughout the pregnancy and newborn period.
Pregnancy is the gateway to future health of both mother and baby. This initiative will help increase awareness and access to resources to ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery and transition to successful home life with a newborn. Students will develop empathy, effective communication skills and early awareness of the unique challenges that arise when caring for patients from underserved communities.
This is a great way to work towards EVMS' vision of producing physicians who strive to improve the health of the community, one pregnancy at a time.
Students will:
- Describe fetal development and normal changes in pregnancy
- State the character and pattern of prenatal visits
- Describe obstetric pathologies and emergencies and outline typical responses
- Recognize complications in pregnancy
- Work to foster cultural and social support for participants
- Describe the various stages of labor
- Describe the "Fourth Trimester"
- Define the clinical indications of postpartum blues versus postpartum depression
Click here to report you service hours for Mother and Baby Mermaids.
For additional details on Mother and Baby Mermaids, click here to download the handout.
You may also contact Community-Engaged Learning or faculty lead Dr. Renee Morales for any additional questions.
