Colorful silicone wristbands are an iconic and often free staple accessory at all kinds of events, like musical festivals, school field days, fundraisers and more. Connecticut medical providers are also now embracing these fashion statements as a low-tech way to better care for and support mothers who have recently given birth.
Hundreds of pregnant patients who gave birth at Trinity Health of New England and Hartford HealthCare over the last several months are leaving with their baby, a plethora of postpartum health warning signs, and an orange bracelet with the words "I gave birth" etched in big, chunky letters.
The bracelets are designed not only to raise awareness of potential postpartum health complications among health care providers, but also to empower patients to advocate for themselves and feel "heard," said Karen Beebe, perinatal nursing professional development specialist at the Women & Infants Center at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.
"Birth is supposed to be a happy time," Beebe said. But, "there are these things that occur, and the more people that are aware and know about it, the better care we can give our perinatal population."
Most patients recover from childbirth without any issues; however, some may develop serious complications even up to a year after birth, Beebe said. In Connecticut, there was an average of five pregnancy-related deaths every year from 2015 to 2020, according to the latest data from the state Maternal Mortality Review Committee. An estimated 90% of the deaths were preventable, with more than half occurring a week or up to a year after giving birth.
Maternal morbidity and mortality also disproportionately impact women of color at higher rates. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Looking more locally, state data shows that Black women are over-represented in maternal morbidity and mortality rates, making up about 19% of the pregnancy-related deaths in Connecticut.
Beebe said Trinity Health was trying to come up with ways to serve its maternal population better when a perinatal nurse at St. Francis pitched the bracelet idea to the other hospitals in the network.
Postpartum patients would receive a brightly colored wristband during the discharge process, along with educational materials on maternal health complications, Beebe said. By wearing a bright, easily identifiable bracelet up to 12 weeks after birth, Beebe said, the hope is that their medical providers will see it and consider that new patient information while developing a treatment plan.
"We know that when patients show up to the ED, even with the education that we've given, sometimes they're not always asked, 'Have you recently gave birth?'" Beebe said. "It's a way to empower the patient to be able to say, 'Hey, I gave birth. My symptoms might be related to that.'"
Trinity officially launched its orange bracelet program earlier this year - around Mother's Day - at Saint Mary's Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital, and Mercy Medical Center. Beebe estimates they've handed out around 175 bracelets since launching.
The nurse who came up with the idea, Beebe said, also brought it to Hartford HealthCare and the Connecticut Hospital Association, both of whom were excited to participate.
Hartford HealthCare has so far given out bracelets to more than 850 patients since launching its program in mid-June, said Jennifer Dowe, nurse and director of perinatal specialty programs.
Dowe said they launched the program across Hartford HealthCare's six birth centers, while also providing postpartum health education and information on the bracelets to over 180 EMS sites, community partners, urgent care centers and lactation support groups.
The parents who have received the bracelets have embraced the initiative thus far, Dowe said. One mother who received the bracelet during her hospital stay told Hartford HealthCare staff that it made her feel more supported, especially compared to her first delivery, when she experienced preeclampsia. Dowe noted that even a few fathers have expressed appreciation for the wristbands, saying the visual reminder helps them stay alert to potential symptoms and better support their partners during recovery.
Dowe also hopes that the bracelet can act as a "gentle visual reminder to the new mom to take care of herself and to speak up if something feels off."
She explained that postpartum health issues can easily be brushed off and rationalized in the hustle and bustle of raising a newborn, like headaches, chest pains and depression.
"We just really want the community to have the awareness that the postpartum period isn't just about the baby," Dowe said. "There's some serious high-risk things that can happen to a mom, and we all have a responsibility to care for our new moms."
Using grant funding and support from the state, the Connecticut Hospital Association said its hoping to take the on maternal warning signs bracelet initiative statewide, making Connecticut the first in the nation to implement it at this level. The initiative would also include training for health care professionals, like community-based, EMS and hospital, to better identify, triage and treat postpartum complications. In a statement to CT Insider, the association hopes to launch in early fall.