In May 2023, when news circulated about a postpartum bracelet initiative at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital, healthcare professionals nationwide expressed interest in replicating the program for their maternity patients.

Responding to the initiative's potential impact on reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality, state leaders, as part of the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ALPQC), are set to launch a statewide pilot of the project in early 2024.

The pilot study aims to distribute bracelets to six facilities, targeting patients who have recently given birth, experienced severe maternal hypertension or preeclampsia, or undergone a pregnancy/infant loss. Recognizing the risk new mothers face for serious complications post-childbirth, the March of Dimes underscores the importance of seeking medical attention for warning signs such as chest pain, seizures, breathing difficulties, heavy bleeding, headaches, fever and extreme pain.

The primary objective of the pilot is to evaluate the efficacy of the bracelets in aiding first responders and emergency departments in identifying and responding to postpartum-related complications. Vicki Curtis, M.S.N., RN, chief nursing officer for Children’s & Women’s Hospital, emphasized the program's potential impact on postpartum outcomes and lauded the hospital's role in inspiring the pilot project during a Maternal Health Innovation podcast in November 2023.

"We are proud to be the inspiration for this new pilot project that has the potential to significantly impact postpartum outcomes and save more lives," Curtis said.

The bracelets, accompanied by cards listing post-birth complication warning signs, will be sent to pilot hospitals. These cards will also be accessible as a resource on alpqc.org. ALPQC organizers anticipate the pilot's success to pave the way for statewide implementation, with the ultimate goal of reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality rates across Alabama.

ALPQC, dedicated to promoting the best health for mothers and babies in Alabama, collaborates with various partners to educate and train healthcare professionals in providing optimal and equitable care.