RWJBarnabas Health Recognizes Maternal Health Awareness with a Series of Education Seminars and Events

West Orange, NJ – In recognition of maternal health awareness, RWJBarnabas Health Facilities will host several events including a Maternal Health and Safety webinar series, blood drive, and COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics for women. pregnant and postpartum. Maternal Health Awareness Day, celebrated on January 23, was established by the State of New Jersey in 2018 to raise awareness and educate healthcare providers and families about maternal health. While New Jersey was the first state to officially recognize maternal health, safety and mortality issues with an annual event, other state, advocacy and community organizations have since followed suit and begun to participate in this day of recognition.

“Maternal morbidity and mortality remains a public health crisis in New Jersey,” said Suzanne Spernal, DNP, APN-BC, RNC-OB, CBC, Vice President of Women’s Services, RWJBarnabas Health, “At RWJBarnabas Health, we are committed to improving maternal health outcomes. With nine birthing centers, we welcome more than 25,000 babies each year and we work closely with each facility to ensure standardization and best practices across our system for new mothers and expectant mothers. Through our maternal health awareness initiatives, events and presentations, we aim to provide information and action to promote health equity and further improve maternal health outcomes.

Virtual seminars
The virtual seminars will take place from January 19 to 26 and are all easily accessible via smartphone or computer. The Community Webinar Series includes:

• National Maternal Health Awareness Day: Positive Pandemic Pregnancies, Wednesday January 19, 1-2 p.m. In this webinar, learn about the importance of prenatal care, how to keep mom and baby healthy amid COVID-19, how to keep baby healthy if mom becomes COVID positive, can mom breastfeed COVID positive, recommended wellness care, benefits of breast feeding and prevention strategies from Sophia Viamonte, RN-BSN, IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.

• Pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine, Sunday January 23: 1-2 p.m. During this webinar, Dr. Serena Chen, Reproductive Medicine Specialist at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and IRMS Reproductive Medicine, and Dr. Dyese Taylor, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, discuss safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant families and couples planning a pregnancy.

• Having a Healthy Pregnancy During a Pandemic, Monday, January 24: 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Sarah Rieber, DNP, APN-C, IBCLC, PMH-C will discuss how the pandemic will affect pregnancy, childbirth and the overall health of their baby and themselves.

• Understand perinatal mood and anxiety disorders,Wednesday January 26^and: 10.30am-11am. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are one of the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, but many of us don’t know what signs and symptoms to look for. Join us for a conversation with maternal mental health expert Lisa Tremayne, RN, PMH-C, CBC, of ​​Monmouth Medical Center.

For more information on the webinar series, please visit: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Save-the-Date–2022-Maternal-Health-Awareness-Day-Events.html?soid=1109962569672&aid=acV77fjl3ws
Blood collect
RWJUH New Brunswick is hosting a blood and platelet drive on January 24, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., to raise awareness of the maternal health crisis in the United States, including issues affecting childbearing families in New Jersey and pregnancy conditions that can cause bleeding, thus requiring transfusions. The meter is located at the Blood Donor Center in the University Clinic Building, 125 Paterson Street, 4th Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. To make an appointment, call 732-235-8100 ext. 221.
Appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine
Jersey City Medical Center and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center are both offering COVID-19 vaccination and booster appointments for pregnant and postpartum women. COVID-19 vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum women statewide are low, and a small but significant number of unvaccinated pregnant patients now require clinical care. To address this issue, Jersey City Medical Center and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center will have appointments available for pregnant and postpartum women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center has appointments available at the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Immunization Clinic, located at 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039 at:

• January 24; 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• January 25; 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• January 26; 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• January 27; 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• January 28; 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.