LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This week, numerous laws went into effect in the state, including a key measure on maternal health which aims to create a path for more resources.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 74, also known as the Momnibus Bill, creates a path of resources and support for expectant moms
  • Kentucky has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • The law aims to provide more support to reduce that number

  • A Kentucky midwife says having access to doulas as support and education can help

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S.

This law aims to provide more support to reduce that number.

Kazia Bryant has devoted her time to maternal health. She’s a midwife and a former doula. She explains most maternal mortality deaths are preventable.

“It’s just an early intervention when moms come in with complaints about headaches, vision disturbances and things like that are an indication of pre-eclampsia, could be postpartum pre-eclampsia. And when those things aren’t managed properly, or they’re brushed off and say, ‘Oh, this is normal, you just had a baby,’ that is what can lead to those deaths that we’re seeing,” Bryant explained.

Bryant said having access to doulas as support and education can help.

“I think they need a lot of emotional support, a lot of mental support. Because when you have a baby, there’s a large fluctuation in your hormones, and that can bring on postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. And so having a support system around them that they feel safe in and that they trust, can definitely be an intervention, definitely can kind of eliminate those disparities or those lapses in health care,” Bryant said.

Senate Bill 74, also known as the Momnibus Bill, aims to support maternal and infant health and reduce the high mortality rate for mothers in Kentucky. 

The new law will establish a state Maternal Fatality Review Team and require state Medicaid services to cover lactation consulting, breastfeeding equipment and in-home and telehealth services. 

The law also provides more information about breastfeeding and safe sleep to at-risk parents. 

“I mean resources like diapers and wipes. When you have a lack of resources or you have a lack of access to resources, that is a stressor, and that’s a stressor emotionally and mentally, which could play a part in blood pressure and just healing in the postpartum period,” Bryant said.

Services and resources that could help change the statistics and prevent deaths.  

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