LAS CRUCES, NM (August 29, 2025) – Memorial Medical Center is very proud to announce the launch of the Mom’s Health Matters Program, an initiative aimed at improving postpartum care and reducing maternal mortality in our community and region. This innovative program provides postpartum patients with wristbands to wear for six weeks after delivery, helping ensure they receive timely and appropriate care for any potential complications.

The Mom’s Health Matter program reflects the hospital’s commitment to advancing maternal health by prioritizing early intervention and raising awareness about the risks associated with the postpartum period. The wristbands act as a visible reminder for patients, families and healthcare providers to remain vigilant about postpartum health during this critical time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), In 2022, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births which is significantly higher than rates in other high-income countries. Alarmingly, the maternal mortality rate for Black women in the US is even higher at 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Many postpartum complications, such as anemia, hypertension, heart conditions, and infections, occur days or weeks after delivery, and 53% of pregnancy-related deaths happen between 7 and 365 days postpartum. The Mom’s Health Matters program seeks to change this by empowering postpartum patients to advocate for their health and ensuring providers are aware of recent deliveries when diagnosing and treating these patients.

“This program, which we are rolling out in coordination with our local healthcare partners, is a meaningful step forward in supporting postpartum health for the women in our community,” said Dr. Yolanda A. Coleman, PhD, MS, RN, MT (ASCP), FACHE, NEA-BC, FAAN, Interim Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial. “By providing tools for early identification of potential complications and encouraging community awareness, we are enhancing care during a critical time. This program underscores our dedication to improving health outcomes and ensuring that every postpartum individual has the resources and support they need.”

As a part of this program, postpartum patients will be provided with a “Still At Risk/Mom’s Health Matters” teal wristband before leaving the hospital. This discreet but effective tool helps identify postpartum patients and ensures healthcare providers at facilities in the local community are aware of recent pregnancies, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.

In addition to wearing the wristband, families, friends, and community members are encouraged to "check in" on patients that recently delivered during this critical postpartum period. If you see someone wearing a program wristband, take a moment to ask how they are feeling and encourage them to seek medical care if they express concerns about their physical or mental health.

Through educational materials and signage, patients who recently delivered will be advised to seek immediate medical care if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Changes in your vision
• Trouble breathing
• Fever of 100.4 F or higher
• Severe nausea and throwing up
• Severe swelling, redness or pain in the arm or leg
• Severe belly pain that doesn’t go away
• Fluid leaking
• Heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge (soaking through one pad/hour, or blood clots, the size of an egg or bigger)
• Headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time
• Pain in the chest
• Seizures
• Overwhelming tiredness
• Dizziness or fainting
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else

Memorial Medical Center invites the community to join in raising awareness about postpartum health and supporting individuals during this critical time.