When we think about maternal healthcare, we often picture the big, defining moments: the first cry of a newborn, a mother holding her baby for the first time, or a skilled team of nurses and doctors rallying to save a life during a complicated delivery. These are the moments we celebrate, the ones that make headlines or get highlighted in patient stories.
But what about the moments that come after? The ones that don’t make it into social media posts or discharge summaries. I’m talking about those quiet, often-overlooked moments when the new mother is left alone with her baby—exhausted, overwhelmed, and in pain. It’s the middle of the night, her body is still aching from delivery or surgery, and her newborn starts crying. She struggles to sit up, every movement tugging at her incision, and tries to reach for her baby in a bassinet that feels just a little too far away.
These moments, so common yet under-discussed, are where the gaps in maternal healthcare become glaringly clear. They’re not emergencies. They’re not dramatic. But they are pivotal. How well we address these moments—how well we equip mothers to care for their babies while recovering themselves—can make all the difference in their physical and emotional recovery, their confidence as parents, and the overall health of their families.
As nurses, we often see these moments in the hospital. We witness the strain on new mothers and the subtle ways our systems sometimes fail to support them. But we don’t always talk about it. We don’t always step back to ask: What else can we do? What tools and systems can we provide to help meet the needs of mothers and babies once the spotlight fades?
Maternal Care Deficits: The Data and the Reality
The United States faces a maternal health crisis. It has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with an estimated 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2021 (CDC). The numbers are even more stark for Black mothers, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. Postpartum care, often fragmented and underfunded, contributes to these disparities.
According to Dr. Kristin Tully, a maternal health researcher and advocate, the postpartum period is a critical but under-resourced time for mothers. “We have this misconception that the hardest part is over once the baby is born,” she explains. “But for many mothers, the postpartum period is when they’re at their most vulnerable—physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s a time when they need the most support but also when our healthcare systems tend to fall short.”
Research highlights these gaps. Nearly 40% of mothers do not attend their postpartum check-ups, often due to logistical challenges, lack of support, or the misconception that the visits aren’t necessary (ACOG, 2021). Mental health conditions, including postpartum depression, are the leading causes of maternal mortality in the first year after birth. Yet, fewer than 20% of mothers receive adequate screening or treatment.
For nurses, the challenge is equally significant. Maternal health nursing faces a staffing crisis, with fewer professionals entering the field and many leaving due to burnout. In 2021, a survey by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) revealed that nearly 90% of maternal health nurses reported feeling unable to provide the level of care they believe their patients deserve due to workload pressures. This shortage is further exacerbated by the existence of maternity care deserts, where over 2.2 million women of childbearing age live in areas without access to obstetric care.
Where Nurses Fit In
As nurses, we often witness these quiet struggles firsthand. We see the mother who hesitates to call for help because she doesn’t want to be a burden. We notice the nurse juggling multiple tasks and trying to assist a mother while keeping up with her other responsibilities.
While we strive to provide the best and most for our patients, we are often short-staffed, working under tight time constraints and balancing competing priorities. To meet these challenges, we need processes and systems in place that optimize safety and efficiency while allowing us to focus on what we do best: providing compassionate, high-quality care.
Imagine if there was technology that reduced the need for nurses to perform repetitive tasks like lifting or repositioning a baby, freeing up time for patient education or assessments. Or consider a tool that allows mothers to independently care for their infants without calling for help as often, enabling nurses to balance their workload better while ensuring that patients feel empowered and supported.
Dr. Tully, who is also the founder of Couplet Care, Inc., highlights this balance well: “We’re not looking for devices to replace the care nurses provide. What we need are tools that enhance what we do, making it easier to focus on the clinical and emotional needs of our patients while reducing unnecessary strain on nurses. The right tools can turn a challenging shift into one where everyone—the nurse, the mother, and the baby—feels safe and supported.”
By embracing innovations that align with our goals as caregivers, we’re not just improving workflows; we’re creating systems of care that set everyone up for success, even in a strained healthcare environment.
A Call to Think Bigger
The moments that define maternal care aren’t always the big, dramatic ones. They’re the quiet moments when a mother tries to lift her baby for the first time after surgery or when she hesitates to ask for help because she doesn’t want to seem weak. These moments matter, and it’s our responsibility as nurses to make sure they’re not overlooked.
So the next time you encounter a tool, a process, or a policy in your practice, I encourage you to ask yourself: Is this the best we can do? Could this be reimagined to make life better for patients, and the nurses who care for them?
When we focus on the quiet moments and address the small but significant challenges, we’re not just improving care—we’re transforming it.
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