Despite Massachusetts' reputation for world-class health care, advocates say there's still work to be done in the areas of maternal and infant care.
“We’re dying out here. Our babies are dying. These things can be preventable,” Jessica Paulino, founder of the EMA Project, said on Greater Boston. “I didn’t feel heard in my maternity care and I live in the mecca of health care.”
Advocacy group March of Dimes gave the state poor grades for its rate of preterm births, especially among moms of color, and the group is pushing lawmakers to take action by implementing policy changes to help. Advocates met with lawmakers at the State House on Thursday as part of the March of Dimes March for Change, which is a nationwide effort.
One policy is the Moms Matter Act, would address maternal mental health and substance abuse issues along with paid leave for pregnancy loss.
Paulino was with the group that visited Beacon Hill. Paulino lost her newborn son Edward three years ago after he was born prematurely. She said the loss of her son is the driving force behind her advocacy.
“It felt just really powerful to honor him in this way,” Paulino said on Greater Boston. “It’s become really important for me to advocate.”
Chloe Schwartz, director of maternal and infant health with March of Dimes, was another leader on Beacon Hill pushing for policy change.
“There are signs, there are resources available to provide these families with the help that they need,” Schwartz said. “Unfortunately the signs and symptoms often go ignored or disregarded entirely.”
Watch: Advocates say Massachusetts is failing moms and babies. They're calling on lawmakers to take action
