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In the spirit of thanks this holiday season, I am extremely grateful for your partnership with us to help reduce maternal mortality and save the lives of mothers and pregnant people across the state.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Earlier this month, the March of Dimes released their Report Cards evaluating maternal and infant health across the United States. The report cards highlight disparities among different racial and ethnic groups and examine factors contributing to these outcomes, including access to prenatal care, chronic health conditions, and environmental exposures.
In California, the top chronic health conditions affecting preterm birth are smoking, hypertension, unhealthy weight, and diabetes. The best investment to address the health of a newborn is to ensure the life of the mother. Let’s look for opportunities to address the chronic medical conditions contributing to preterm birth. Check out the California Department of Public Health’s Preterm Birth Outreach and Education Toolkit with resources in both English and Spanish.
Lastly, this December, we are asking: what is one small thing you can do to support a new mom? It doesn’t have to be big—something as simple as bringing dinner, babysitting for a few hours, or helping with errands can make a huge difference. We invite you to share your ideas, videos, or testimonials to inspire others with the hashtag #StrongStartSmallThing on social media or send us an email at strongstartandbeyond@osg.ca.gov.
Together in health,
Dr. Diana Ramos
California Surgeon General
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