GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Hospitals across the state have adopted the Postpartum Alert Initiative to reduce the number of maternal mortality rates in Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative, Nebraska ranks the 17th state highest in the country in postpartum maternal mortality rates, but the new program is looking to change that.
The program gives new moms a teal bracelet and a postcard with postpartum warning signs to look for when discharging from the hospital.
Tesia Gust, nursing director for labor and delivery at CHI Health St. Francis’ NICU Unit, said the initiative is a good way to bring awareness to moms who are struggling with their health postpartum.
“They felt like we needed to get some type of awareness out there in the community to all medical professionals along with just community members,” Gust said. “This is what they came up with: an alert bracelet that postpartum moms can wear that’s different from any other medical bracelet that’s out there.“
She also said a mother’s health can easily be overlooked because of the critical care that is needed for their new baby.
“They’re at home and they’re taking care of their baby and their health is not always the priority, as most mothers can relate to,” Gust said. “We’re just really drawing attention to them. There are things that you really want to be aware of with your body and what’s going on and making sure you’re really watching for those warning signs so you’re getting medical attention quickly.”
Charge nurse on labor and delivery at CHI Health St., Francis Kaylee Thompson, said knowing the signs and symptoms of a postpartum emergency can be the difference between life and death.
“The two big things that are on this initiative are high blood pressures when they go home and also hemorrhages and lots of bleeding,” Thompson said. “Some signs and symptoms would be changes in their vision, any upper right quadrant pain and headaches that will not go away with over the counter medications.“
When it comes to the teal bracelets, Thompson hopes going forward that when people see them, they become aware of postpartum mothers in the community.
“I hope we create a big enough awareness in the community that when they see a woman wearing one of those bracelets that they will know that they are postpartum,” Thompson said. “We’re hoping everyone in the community will know what these bracelets mean.”
The program started at CHI Health St. Elizabeth and CHI Health Lakeside and has now spread to 44 birthing hospitals across the state.
To find out more information about the Postpartum Alert Initiative and postpartum emergencies you should be aware of, you can check out the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative website.
Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2025 KSNB. All rights reserved.
link
