Mothers

Fierce 2020 Cohort 1170 x 660 | Cradle Cincinnati
Blog, Community, Mothers
January 28, 20210

FIERCE: Black MotHERstory Project and Exhibition

“The love expressed between women is particular and powerful because we have had to love in order to live; love has been our survival.” – Audre Lorde


FIERCE is passion made manifest.


FIERCE is a window into the world of Black motherhood, comprising artwork that reflects a range of voices, histories, and experiences. 


FIERCE is opportunity for women to find freedom while embracing creativity. 


FIERCE is movement work – building community, celebrating resiliency and strengthening social connections. 


FIERCE is art designed to challenge and disrupt common narratives and enable new perspectives on identity and social location. 


FIERCE, a collaborative empowerment art project, was created with Queens Village and Renegade Babe Cincinnati as a platform for Black mothers to be SEEN and HEARD. The forthcoming exhibition provides space for these women’s stories to be broadcast in a world where speaking about being a Black woman and about Black motherhood is still considered a radical act. In this forum the personal is political. 


Through a series of eight guided workshops, a diverse group of Black mothers from across Cincinnati engaged in writing and sharing their stories in their own words, and creating works of narrative art reflecting on their experiences through their own eyes. 


Over a three month period in Fall 2020, participants explored printmaking techniques, discovered the power of memoir, and learned to employ symbolic imagery to visually communicate their narratives. 


Through this participatory art experience, the women confirmed the power of interdependency between women – coming together, sharing stories across difference, listening and valuing each other’s worth, and celebrating the redemptive power of nurturing. 


Artist participants collaborated with teaching artist Jeni Jenkins of Renegade Babe Studio in the creation of written stories, artwork and audio recordings that will culminate in a powerful group exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center through the Co-Lab public education program. The exhibition will showcase screen prints of participant’s artwork, quotes from the writings, audio recordings and relief print portraits of participants.


On view in the CAC Lower Lobby Gallery

Friday March 26th—Friday April 16th 2021

44 E. 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Free Admission*


*In an effort to ensure visitor safety, The CAC is observing new protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and limit capacity in the galleries, specifically TIMED TICKETING. All visitors are required to sign-up for a reserved time slot.  SIGN UP HERE


Three FIERCE participants assisted with writing and audio sessions. Writing assistance provided by Desirae Hosely and Teisha Murray. Audio assistance provided by singer/songwriter Adalia Boehne. Audio recordings and sound mixing provided by Antoine Franklin of Musical Elevation Studio. 


Teaching artist Jeni Jenkins is a visual artist and activist invested in enabling positive social impact by extending her practice outside the studio and into the social context. Jenkins is passionate about the role of art in transforming individual lives and communities.


FIERCE is an initiative of Queens Village. 


Queens Village is a supportive community of powerful Black women who come together to relax, repower and take care of ourselves and each other.


Queens Village is an initiative of Cradle Cincinnati, a collective impact organization that fights high rates of infant mortality that disproportionately affect Black women in Cincinnati and beyond. We center Black women’s voices on changing not just racial disparities in birth outcomes but also the conditions that drive inequity in maternal and infant health.


We provide a safe space for Black mothers to support and be supported by their peers, to connect, to relieve stress, to process trauma and to build a better world together for ourselves and our children. 


Learn more at www.blackwomenforthewin.com.

CC Annual Report 2019 227 min copy scaled | Cradle Cincinnati
Community, Equity, Mothers
July 8, 20200

Show Up for Black Women – Stand for Queens Ally Campaign

Two weeks ago, we released our annual report and were pleased to share that Hamilton County saw 14 fewer Black infant deaths in 2019—a 24% decrease in Black infant mortality compared to the previous five years. Despite this progress, Black infants continue to die at more than two times the rate of other babies in America, regardless of their parents’ socio-economic status or health behaviors. Their moms, too, are far more likely to die as a result of their pregnancy.


Queens Village is an initiative of Cradle Cincinnati that was launched with the purpose of centering Black women’s voices and creating a safe space for Black women to share experiences, relax and recharge.


Many partners have asked how they can support Cradle Cincinnati and Queens Village in the movement for health equity. The Stand for Queens Ally Campaign was developed in response to Black women sharing that they often feel unseen and unheard. This campaign is an opportunity for allies to elevate and amplify their voices. 


You are a key ally in the pursuit to eliminate racial disparities in maternal and infant health. We cannot do this without you.


Our ask: Post on social media your support of the Stand for Queens Ally Campaign. See below for details.

Stand for Queens Ally Campaign

Follow these steps to be a part of the campaign:

  1. Post the Stand for Queens graphic.
  2. Include this caption or something similar: I take the pledge to Stand for Queens by respecting, honoring, trusting, caring and advocating for Black Women. 
  3. Challenge five people to take the pledge with you.
  4. Tag @QueensVillageCincinnati on Facebook and Instagram and use the hashtags #standforqueens #becauseweloveher.

Example post:

Stand For Queens Graphic copy | Cradle Cincinnati


I take the pledge to Stand for Queens! I will honor Black women by speaking up when no one else does. I challenge the following people (XX, XX, XX, XX, XX) to take the pledge with me. @QueensVillageCincinnati #standforqueens #becauseweloveher 

Doud Family Resized | Cradle Cincinnati
Blog, Cincinnati, Community, Mothers, Pregnancy, Preterm Birth
June 6, 20190

A local mom’s journey through preeclampsia by Lauren Doud

Preeclampsia. When I first heard that word, I had no idea what it meant, but it would change my life completely. I was in my first pregnancy, 22 weeks along, and I had just been admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital with an excruciating headache, blood pressures in the 180s/100s, severe swelling, and protein in my urine. Leading up to that admission, I had what I had assumed were normal pregnancy symptoms: nausea, mild headaches, swelling in my hand and fatigue. Turns out, I was one of the 1 in 12 pregnancies that develops preeclampsia.

After 10 days in the hospital, my blood pressure was completely out of control; I was seeing spots in my vision and I was developing HELLP Syndrome, the deadlier cousin of preeclampsia. The high risk doctors decided that we couldn’t wait anymore. I had an emergency C-section at 24 weeks, and my son Peter went to the NICU. When I finally got to hold Peter, it was the first and last time. He passed away 2 days after he was born, in his daddy’s arms.

May was Preeclampsia Awareness Month, and we had a proclamation issued by Mayor Cranley. We are working hard so that we do not have to lose any more mothers or babies to this condition. I became involved with the Preeclampsia Foundation, the only national foundation that supports families dealing with preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.  Through there, I found out about the Promise Walks, their signature fundraiser, and started the Cincinnati Walk in 2017.

This year we are having our 3rd annual walk at Sawyer Point on June 29, 2019, with registration beginning at 9:00 AM. Our mission family, the Bischoff’s, will be sharing their harrowing experience when Rebekah had HELLP syndrome with their second child. We will also be featuring Dr. Danielle Johnson, head of women’s mental health at the Lindner Center, who will be talking about maternal mental health after a traumatic pregnancy. Marty Mercado, national events manager at the Preeclampsia Foundation, will also be attending. We have a memorial to honor those lost, and then we walk about 3 miles. Afterward, there is a silent auction, vendors, and a kid’s area with face painting, crafts and Star Wars characters. We are a family and pet friendly event, and entrance is free, although advance online registration at our website is recommended.  I hope to see you there!

Pictured: Lauren and her family

CC Annual 2019 shoot 7 min | Cradle Cincinnati
Blog, Cincinnati, Community, Latest News, Mothers, Pregnancy, Preterm Birth, Safe Sleep
April 25, 20190

Hamilton County Saw Fewest Infant Deaths Ever in 2018, But Racial Disparities Continue

92 babies died before their first birthday in Hamilton County in 2018, 5 fewer than in 2017 and the fewest in county history. While outcomes have improved across populations since 2017, an 11% improvement in Black infant deaths was instrumental in driving the change. With 10,739 births, the infant mortality rate for 2018 was 8.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Screen Shot 2019 04 20 at 4.34.35 PM | Cradle Cincinnati

Nationally and locally, trends continue to show a 3-fold increased risk of infant death for Black families across the socio-economic spectrum. Our new report – released today – highlights 50 years of the complex and stubborn racial disparity at the core of this issue.

In fact, Hamilton County’s White and Hispanic infant mortality rates are now at the US averages while our local Black infant mortality rate is more than 3 times higher than the White rate and 32% worse than the US Black average.

2018 showed bright spots among Black birth outcomes as well. The percentage of Black women in Hamilton County who did not access prenatal care in 2018 fell to 3% ‒ nearly half of what it had been. At the same time, more local Black women than ever before accessed prenatal care in the first trimester.

As part of this new report, we’re highlighting known solutions for reducing racial disparity in infant mortality, including community health workers, group prenatal care, implicit bias training and policy-level solutions.

Black women in Hamilton County who are interested in getting involved in developing solutions are encouraged to participate in Queens Village, a community of powerful Black women of childbearing age who come together to relax, re-power and take care of each other.

Other important trends in local birth outcomes:

Trend 1: Preterm birth-related deaths dropped sharply. The reason that Hamilton County had an improved infant mortality rate in 2018 was a sharp decline in deaths due to preterm birth, the leading cause of infant death. From 2013-2017, Hamilton County saw an average of 59 preterm birth-related deaths. In 2018, this fell by 19% to 48 deaths. An average county the size of Hamilton County has just 36 deaths of this type. 

Trend 2:Birth defect-related infant deaths and sleep-related infant deaths rose slightly. The second and third leading causes of infant death each saw small rises in 2018. Birth defect-related deaths went from an average of 19 deaths up to 23. The change was not statistically significant. Sleep-related infant deaths, an area where our community has seen recent improvement, also rose slightly from 13 to 14. 

Trend 3: Lowest maternal smoking ever for all populations. Fewer pregnant women than ever before reported smoking in Hamilton County in 2018. Rates of maternal smoking in Hamilton County are now at 8.1%. These rates have declined for the 3rd year in a row and have seen a 19% decline over a 5 year period. 

Trend 4:Place-based investments are working. More than half of the improvement in preterm birth came from just three communities; Price Hill, Avondale and Villages at Roll Hill all saw dramatic improvement. Price Hill, in fact, saw its rate of preterm birth drop to 1/3 of its previous rate and is now better than the national average.

Nationally and locally, trends continue to show a 3-fold increased risk of infant death for Black families across the socio-economic spectrum. Our new report – released today – highlights 50 years of the complex and stubborn racial disparity at the core of this issue.

In fact, Hamilton County’s White and Hispanic infant mortality rates are now at the US averages while our local Black infant mortality rate is more than 3 times higher than the White rate and 32% worse than the US Black average.

2018 showed bright spots among Black birth outcomes as well. The percentage of Black women in Hamilton County who did not access prenatal care in 2018 fell to 3% ‒ nearly half of what it had been. At the same time, more local Black women than ever before accessed prenatal care in the first trimester.

As part of this new report, we’re highlighting known solutions for reducing racial disparity in infant mortality, including community health workers, group prenatal care, implicit bias training and policy-level solutions.

Black women in Hamilton County who are interested in getting involved in developing solutions are encouraged to participate in Queens Village, a community of powerful Black women of childbearing age who come together to relax, re-power and take care of each other.

Other important trends in local birth outcomes:

Trend 1: Preterm birth-related deaths dropped sharply. The reason that Hamilton County had an improved infant mortality rate in 2018 was a sharp decline in deaths due to preterm birth, the leading cause of infant death. From 2013-2017, Hamilton County saw an average of 59 preterm birth-related deaths. In 2018, this fell by 19% to 48 deaths. An average county the size of Hamilton County has just 36 deaths of this type. 

Trend 2:Birth defect-related infant deaths and sleep-related infant deaths rose slightly. The second and third leading causes of infant death each saw small rises in 2018. Birth defect-related deaths went from an average of 19 deaths up to 23. The change was not statistically significant. Sleep-related infant deaths, an area where our community has seen recent improvement, also rose slightly from 13 to 14. 

Trend 3: Lowest maternal smoking ever for all populations. Fewer pregnant women than ever before reported smoking in Hamilton County in 2018. Rates of maternal smoking in Hamilton County are now at 8.1%. These rates have declined for the 3rd year in a row and have seen a 19% decline over a 5 year period. 

Trend 4:Place-based investments are working. More than half of the improvement in preterm birth came from just three communities; Price Hill, Avondale and Villages at Roll Hill all saw dramatic improvement. Price Hill, in fact, saw its rate of preterm birth drop to 1/3 of its previous rate and is now better than the national average.

Jennifer Simone Resized | Cradle Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Community, Mothers, Pregnancy
April 9, 20190

In Tune: As a musician, vibrational sound therapist and doula, Jennifer Simone’s work harmonizes the mind, body and spirit

Seeing Jennifer Simone perform live is a cosmic, communal and meditative experience. Aromatic incense cleanses the air to welcome high vibrations and healing crystals purify her space where she becomes the center of her sonic universe. Fluidly, Simone unites binaural rhythms with woodwinds, indigenous instruments such as the kalimba; her voice, and the technology of loop pedals. She describes her style as “always improvisational,” but intentionally draws from her background as a classically trained Jazz saxophonist, along with Middle Eastern and African spirituality practices, and World music.  In many ways, she’s slightly reminiscent of Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra and other artists of the ‘60s and ‘70s Spiritual Jazz era.

Besides being an explorative, autodidactic musician, women’s health and wellness always motivated Simone. Wanting to become an obstetrician, she remembers being in fifth grade reading her mom’s nursing books, and continuously reading the chapters about childbirth.  Her favorite toy then was a Black OB/GYN Barbie, whose patient’s belly was removable and had a baby inside.

“As I got older, I never forgot about wanting to do birth work,” Simone says. “(But) I’d been on my spiritual journey for some time and done a lot of learning as far as spirituality and homeopathic healing, so being an OB/GYN was not the route of childbirth that I wanted to take.”

She decided she wanted to learn to be a doula, a woman who provides support and guidance to a mother during her pregnancy and postpartum. Studying under Mama Mawusi Ashshakir, midwife and founder of the Body Temple Institute, she became a certified holistic doula.

“It’s kind of like a sister/friend,” explains Simone. “Somebody that you would call and trust to be with you in childbirth, someone that is going to help you manage your pain—maybe if you need somebody to talk to during your pregnancy, you can call up your doula and just have girl talk, like, ‘I’m scared about this,’ and your doula will talk with you.”

Doulas also serve an important role as advocates for expectant mothers. In April 2018, Black Mamas Matter Alliance founded Black Maternal Health Week to raise awareness around the burden of maternal mortality and morbidity in the Black community. Historically, Black women have been more likely than White women to suffer poor maternal outcomes, largely due to having their needs and concerns dismissed by health workers.

“Advocacy is a huge part of what I do,” says Simone. “Advocacy is a huge part of interventions between things going wrong in births. It’s as simple as somebody speaking up. Even if you’re not a doula, even if you’re just the husband or a sister, if you’re in the hospital and you see mistreatment or something that shouldn’t be happening, you being there and being able to call it out can make a huge difference in how things play out in the birth.”

The second annual Black Maternal Week is April 11-17.

Why Black women’s voices are important:

Their voices are important because I believe that if you tune into the most marginalized communities or the most overlooked people within a community, you can solve problems. You can’t really get it by passing those people or silencing them. You can’t get down to what needs to be changed without looking at those people, catering to them, serving them in some way, and without really hearing them.

Come out and see Jennifer Simone at the In Her Voice Concert on May 16, hosted by Queens Village and Underworld Jazz Festival at the Woodward Theater. Featured performers include Tank and the Bangas, Lauren Eylise, Jennifer Simone, MC Jori An Cotton and DJ Apryl Reign along with the premiere of Because We Love Her: Love Letters to Black Women video & poetry by the In Her Voice North College Hill Poetry Crew.

Get your tickets at https://inhervoiceconcert.eventbrite.com/

Use the code becauseweloveher to get 30% off ticket price!

Article by Mildred Fallen

post1 | Cradle Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Community, Mothers
January 30, 20190

Spread love to moms this Valentine’s Day (with example letter #3)

Cradle_Winter_2018-150 Resized

Help us spread love to moms this Valentine’s Day by writing a letter of encouragement. We’ll collect letters and hand-deliver them to women during their prenatal care appointments. Learn more here.

If you need inspiration, see one of our favorite letters below.

Heart

Dear Expecting Mom,

You are on a journey that is both exciting and full of unexpected surprises. Pregnancy can be stressful, fun, tiring, and amazing all at once! Seeing the changes your body will go through and feeling the little life in your womb move and grow is an experience that words can’t describe.

I am a mother of three. My very first pregnancy was with twin girls. Talk about shock! I was overwhelmed and though I had witnessed my sisters’ pregnancies, there’s nothing like going through it myself. I worked full-time, volunteered at my church and tried to keep up with everything at home while my body was busy trying to grow two healthy babies.

Unfortunately, my water broke at 23 weeks and 6 days. I totally didn’t see that coming. My little girls, Kasiah and Kaydence, were born five days later. They were so tiny, but instantly I was in love. My daughter, Kaydence, opened her eyes in the isolette and looked at me – that moment changed my life. Though she probably couldn’t really see me, she felt my presence, and all the struggles and difficulties I endured during my pregnancy suddenly became worth it all. At that moment, I would have given anything to help them keep fighting.

My little girls passed away the next day. That was the most difficult moment of my life. Yes I was sad, my heart was broken, and I was depressed – but instead of letting the experience break me and break my spirit, I let it shape my perspective and my view of the world. It strengthened me and made me a better me.  Losing my daughters taught me to be an advocate for my own health and wellness; it taught me to appreciate the precious gift of life and the opportunity to carry it. I now have been given the awesome opportunity to counsel and encourage other moms who’ve lost babies or young children – something I would have never been able to do had I not endured my own trial and allowed my heart to grieve and then heal.

Every storm has a rainbow, and my rainbow baby was born on October 25, 2014. My son, Kaden, has brought me unspeakable joy! He can’t replace his sisters, but I wasn’t looking for a replacement. I received a wonderful gift in the birth of my son. When he smiles and coos at me, my heart melts.

I admit, I was a little nervous about having another baby, but my care was phenomenal and my pregnancy was smooth and uncomplicated. I had a great support system to keep me going and ease any fears and doubts. Every time I look into Kaden’s beautiful brown eyes, I am thankful that I had the courage to try again. All the aches and pains that go along with pregnancy were so worth it.

Having a newborn at home after five years of just me and my husband was quite the adjustment to say the least, but the kind of sleepless nights I have now are way better than the ones I had before.

We may not always know why things happen the way they do, but I’ve learned to stop worrying about all of that and just enjoy the moment. Enjoy your pregnancy and take good care of yourself. All the resources you need to care for your baby will fall into place.  You may not know all the ins and outs of parenting, but you will learn – that’s part of the joy of the journey!

My experience is why I care so much about expecting moms. Life is such a gift not to be taken for granted –and children are a blessing no matter the circumstances surrounding their birth. There is nothing more important than what you are doing right now – growing a life that will impact the world! There is a plan for your life and the life of your child. If you have no one else around to support you, just know that there’s a mother of three babies living in Cincinnati that is rooting for you and your baby.

Warmest wishes for you and your baby!

Cara

default post image | Cradle Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Community, Mothers
January 23, 20190

Spreading love to moms this Valentine’s Day (with example letter #2)

Cradle Cincinnati_2015-112 Resized

Help us spread love to moms this Valentine’s Day by writing a letter of encouragement. We’ll collect letters and hand-deliver them to women during their prenatal care appointments. Learn more here.

If you need inspiration, see one of our favorite letters below.

Heart

Hey Mama-to-be,

I know this might not be the most comfortable time in your life. You might be feeling nauseous or your back might hurt. I hear ya, but I want to tell you that it’s worth it.

The love you will feel when you hold your baby for the first time is like no other feeling imaginable. You will have an insta-best friend. This person will look up to you and need you. You can do this.

There will be tough days in your pregnancy and as a mother but there will be brighter and happier days to offset those. Everything happens for a reason and the reason for this is because you are a great person and are going to make a wonderful mom!

All the best,

Marie

default post image | Cradle Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Community, Mothers
January 16, 20190

Spreading love to local moms this Valentine’s Day

SSR Photo 2 Resized

Help us spread love to moms this Valentine’s Day by writing a letter of encouragement. We’ll collect letters and hand-deliver them to women during their prenatal care appointments. Learn more here.

If you need inspiration, see one of our favorite letters below.

Heart

Dear Mama,

Being a mom is one of life’s most precious gifts. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world, but there is nothing more rewarding than when that sweet, innocent face smiles up at you.

I am a first-time mom myself to a quickly growing 19-month old little boy, and I know how exhausting some of those days (and nights!) can be…but when my little boy runs to me smiling and wraps his tiny arms around my neck, I know it is all worth it!

We go through so much as moms from the first weeks of morning sickness to the low-sleep nights with a crying infant, but never forget that you are not alone and your baby loves you forever.

Thinking of you and sending you loads of love.

Nika

default post image | Cradle Cincinnati
Blog, Cincinnati, Community, Mothers, Pregnancy, Preterm Birth
November 20, 20180

Why moms-to-be should consider CenteringPregnancy

Sunlight spills through the large glass windows into a room filled with laughter.  Off to one side, a young woman with long braids and a round pregnant belly dishes a second helping of fresh fruit into her bowl and then joins the circle of other moms-to-be who are exchanging smiles and head nods as they hear their own experiences echoed in the chatter of the group. This may not sound like your typical doctor’s appointment, but at UC Medical Center’s Center for Women’s Health, this is just an ordinary prenatal checkup for women enrolled in the CenteringPregnancy program.

CenteringPregnancy is a healthcare delivery model where patients are seen in groups rather than individually.  The positive impact of this model of care is measurable and proven. According to the Centering Healthcare Institute, the organization that developed the Centering model,

“CenteringPregnancy decreases the rate of preterm and low-weight babies, increases breastfeeding rates and leads to better pregnancy spacing. CenteringPregnancy has been shown to nearly eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth. Black women, who are at higher risk for preterm birth in the US, experience a lower risk of preterm birth when enrolled in CenteringPregnancy than in traditional care.”

Three key components set CenteringPregnancy apart from traditional care: empowerment, education and community.

  • At each of their 10 prenatal care sessions, women are empowered by learning to collect and record their own blood pressure, temperature, pulse and weight, which they report to the obstetrician, midwife or nurse practitioner they see one-on-one.
  • Women participate in interactive education on a variety of topics important in pregnancy, including nutrition, breastfeeding, choices in childbirth, infant safety and emotional health.
  • And they build community with one another and their healthcare providers.

As the sessions unfold, patients quickly realize that one person’s question is another person’s question.  And more questions get answered, simply because there is more time. CenteringPregnancy patients enjoy a tenfold increase in time spent with their healthcare providers compared to patients in traditional care.  Spending more time with providers and with each other fosters the building of meaningful relationships, decreasing stress and increasing patient satisfaction.

Because CenteringPregnancy offers significant benefits to expectant moms, we want to spread the word, and there is no better time to do this than in November, which is National Prematurity Awareness Month. At UC, we hope to increase the number of women enjoying the benefits of empowerment, education, community and better birth outcomes that group prenatal care provides.

Liza Barnes UCCincinnati native Liza Barnes is a nurse clinician at UC Medical Center’s Center for Women’s Health, where she facilitates Centering groups and coordinates the Childbirth Education program.

default post image | Cradle Cincinnati
Blog, Cincinnati, Mothers, Pregnancy, Preterm Birth
November 1, 20180

When it comes to preterm birth, stress matters

In 2005, there was a devastating earthquake in Chile. Years later, a researcher asked whether or not the earthquake impacted preterm birth rates in that community. Some women saw a greater risk; others did not. What made the difference? Women closest to the center of the quake AND in their 1st trimester during the quake had significantly higher preterm birth rates, but not those exposed later in pregnancy or further from the quake. This suggests that intense stress early in pregnancy may be a risk factor for preterm birth.

Stress during pregnancy is associated with a variety of poor outcomes, including preterm labor, low birthweight babies and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Evidence suggests women experiencing particularly high levels of stress during pregnancy are at a 25-60% greater risk for preterm birth as compared to women reporting low levels of stress.

A variety of factors can cause stress during pregnancy, including anxiety, depression, perceived racism, health behaviors, trauma, a lack of coping resources, the community in which one lives and/or works, social expectations, socioeconomic level, level of education and quality of relationships. This issue is inherently complex, and we do not expect to eliminate stressors for moms. However, we believe that increasing social support can buffer the effects of stress. What can this look like?

  • Group Prenatal Care. There is power in knowing you aren’t alone. During group prenatal care, 10 women who are at similar stages in their pregnancies go through their prenatal care experience as a group. In this setting, women are able to form important social connections with their peers that can help reduce stress. CenteringPregnancy, a model of group prenatal care, is currently offered by TriHealth, Christ Hospital, WinMed Health Services and UC Health.  In partnership with Ohio Department of Medicaid, we are currently expanding the model in Hamilton County.
  • Community Health Workers and Home Visitors. Sometimes, we could all use a bit of judgement-free support. Community health workers and home visitors across multiple agencies serve and advocate for pregnant women and moms. They help with issues related to housing, transportation, food and employment that can be stressful for women to deal with during and after pregnancy. Women can get connected to these services simply by calling 211.
  • Non-heath partners who impact health. It turns out that stress related to housing, income, transportation and education play an important role in our health. For this reason, Cradle Cincinnati has recently formed new partnerships with organizations like Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services to work on new ways to lessen the impact of stress on local pregnancies.

Together, we can help Cincinnati have less stressful and healthier pregnancies. Join us as we recognize November as Preterm Birth Awareness Month by highlighting the important role that stress plays on this issue.