MISSION
The Mama Matters program is dedicated to increasing access to prenatal and postpartum services for the low-income, at-risk and underserved communities in Mesa County. It is our belief that improving birth experiences is fundamental in empowering families to thrive and to better our community.
By removing the financial barrier, those who most need the added support, education and care, we aim to improve birth outcomes and experiences for all community members.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS?
A pregnant or recently postpartum woman/family (a “client”), who resides in Mesa County, completes an application on our website. Once we confirm their eligibility and assign a Tier level, the client is matched with a MamaMatters certified professional. Once the service is complete, we pay the professional the remainder of their fee (clients may have some out-of-pocket expense based on their eligibility). The Client and the professional are required to complete a post-care survey so we can continually improve our program and ensure our professionals are meeting the highest standards.
We know quality care comes at a price. The professionals that participate in our program are top notch. We believe that they should not have to discount their time in order to serve those who cannot afford their full fee. Through generous donations and grants, we ensure the MamaMatters professionals receive compensation for the great work that they do.
We have created an in-depth training and certification process for the professional providing their services to birthing families. These include a Bridges out of poverty training, cpr certification, how to properly conduct a prenatal/postnatal meeting, and requiring them to keep their certifications current.
We hope to launch this fully funded program by Mid 2019. Until the full program is launched, you may still sign up for services, but the care provider accepts you as a client WITHOUT receiving compensation from MamaMatters.
WHO’S ELIGIBLE?
The MamaMatters program is open to any childbearing woman/family whose permanent residence is in Mesa County. The following eligibility markers will determine how much, if any, out of pocket expenses you will have. Out-of-pocket may range between $100-$225.
If you participate/qualify/actively use the following services, you qualify for the MamaMatters Program.
CHP+
Medicaid
CICP Recipients
Placing Baby up for Adoption
Undocumented
Mother’s age at estimated due date: 19 & Under
Mother’s age at estimated due date: 40+
Mother with Special Needs
VBAC
Domestic Violence
History of Severe Depression/Mood Disorders
Birth/Sexual Trauma
Incarcerated at Time of EDD (Mother or Partner)
Legally Deaf
LGBTQIA
Expected Stillbirth
Experiencing Homelessness
Clients registered with other area non-profits (ie: Latimer House, NFP, WIC)
Any birth professional who works in a field we sponsor is eligible to join the MamaMatters program. All MamaMatters professionals are required to complete certain training and certifications (at their own cost) to be added to our program. We have strict standards and levels of service our professionals must abide by. This ensures you receive top-quality care.
Current requirements include:
- Bridges Out of Poverty (required for everyone)
- CPR certification (required for everyone)
- Proper Prenatals Training (required for Birth Doulas)
- Current certification documentation by your certifying body (required for everyone)
WHY DO WE SPONSOR THE SERVICES WE DO?
Current studies have shown these services to provide substantial benefits to pregnant mothers and babies. Since most insurance companies view these services as elective, they are not covered. By sponsoring these services, we help level the playing field and help women obtain beneficial services that they may otherwise not be able to have.
Birth/Labor Doulas: A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience. You can learn more here.
Doula care has been scientifically studied and has been shown to reduce requests for epidurals by 60%, length of labor by 25%, and reduce cesarean rates by 50%. Moms supported by doulas are less likely to need Pitocin, and are more likely to rate their birth experience positively. They also can reduce anxiety and stress for both the birth mom and her partner!
According to a 2013 Cochrane Database Systematic Review, “continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.”
This specialized care should be available to all mothers and MamaMatters makes that possible.
“I am so thankful for my doula. Those last few days before baby came I was an emotional wreck. She was there. It’s what I needed.”
“My husband was so thankful to have our doula there. She allowed him to just be a dad. A husband. He knew I was taken care of. “
We cover birth doula services up to $500.
Postpartum Doula: The Fourth Trimester. That amazing time after baby is born when extra care to families is needed. Not only do they provide emotional support, and evidence based information, but they also provide practical support. That’s right! They will do dishes, laundry, errands, etc.! During this transitional period, being able to let someone else complete the every day tasks while you focus on healing, connecting, sleeping, breastfeeding and all things a new baby requires is so comforting.
Postpartum doulas are proven to reduce postpartum mood disorders and increase breastfeeding success.
We cover postpartum doulas up to $200.
Lactation Consultants: as natural as breastfeeding is, it can be hard. Access to a skilled, trained and caring consultant can make or break your breastfeeding journey.
Although most infants receive some breastmilk, most are not exclusively breastfeeding or continuing to breastfeed as long as recommended.
Although there are many factors that contribute to the steep decline in breastfeeding rates as the child ages, achieving a good latch, developing a good supply and being educated about how nutrition effects breastmilk production early on will set the mother up for success.
While there are excellent, free resources, we will cover up to $75 in fees for in-home visits. We do not cover breastfeeding supplies.
Chiropractic Care: Prenatal Adjustments: Care can be especially beneficial for pregnant moms to help ensure optimal pelvic alignment and nervous system health. Optimal pelvic alignment helps create conditions for baby to assume the natural head down position by creating optimal room and space for baby by balancing pelvic ligaments which can be distorted and affect uterine function.
As pregnancy progresses, the weight bearing joint enlarge significantly to compensate for a new center of gravity. This can create low back pain. More importantly these nerves once exiting the spine are also innervating other organs such as the colon, bladder, ovaries, uterus and other significant anatomy. Misalignment of vertebrae can not only create pain but also influence organ system health.
Chiropractic care for newborns and infants is especially important to help offset birth trauma. During a normal vaginal birth, the babies’ neck is often extended one and a half times it’s normal length while coming through the birth canal. This can create misalignments in the neck affecting very important nerve structures that can lead to health challenges such as ear infections, colic, constipation, reflux and many others.
Doctors of Chiropractic are specially trained to adjust babies and techniques that are used are different from that of adults. The amount of pressure that is used to adjust and infant is about the same as which you can comfortably put pressure on a closed eye and not feel pain.
For more information including peer-review studies on other pregnancy topics, please visit www.icpa.org.
Postpartum Adjustments: Labor and birth are hard work for both mama and baby.
We cover up to $400 for prenatal and postpartum adjustments for mom and baby.
Childbirth Education: Knowledge is power. http://forms.lamaze.org/LI_Policy-Brief-15.pdf
We cover up to $300
Placenta Encapsulation: Placenta encapsulation is the practice of ingesting the placenta after it has been steamed, dehydrated, ground, and placed into pills.
We will cover up to $200
We currently sponsor the following services:
Doulas
We cover birth and postpartum doula services.
Lactation Consults
We cover in-home lactation consults. Breastfeeding supplies are not covered.
Chiropractic Care
Up to four prenatal and postpartum adjustments for mom and baby through the first 3 months after birth. Max funding: $400.
Placenta Encapsulation
Professional placenta encapsulation up to $200.
Childbirth Education
Professional childbirth education classes up to $300.
ASL Interpreter
Qualified ASL interpretation during your pregnancy and birth related appointments..
BirthSmart, is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. As a volunteer run organization, you can rest assured knowing every dollar donated goes to furthering the mission.