Nebraska ranks 17th in the nation for maternal mortality — a statistic two CHI Health nurses are hoping to change with a new statewide program aimed at protecting postpartum moms.
Launched in 2023 at CHI Health Lakeside and St. Elizabeth hospitals, the Postpartum Alert Initiative equips new mothers with teal bracelets and informational postcards at discharge. The goal: raise awareness of life-threatening postpartum symptoms and empower both families and healthcare providers to act early.
“We got the maternal morbidity and mortality report, and it was just disheartening,” said Liz Siedhoff, a perinatal safety specialist at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. “So I started brainstorming — what can we do to make this better?”
The bracelets are meant to be worn for at least six weeks following delivery. They signal to doctors, nurses, and others that the wearer is newly postpartum — a small but potentially life-saving detail in emergency or urgent care settings.
“They may go into an urgent care or a family practice doctor,” explained Christina Phillips, a clinical nurse educator at CHI Health Lakeside. “It helps those providers ask more questions and better understand the severity of what the mom might be experiencing.”
According to the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC), 60% of pregnancy-related deaths occur after delivery, and 80% of those deaths are preventable. That’s the gap this project aims to close.
With the help of NPQIC, the initiative is set to expand to all 44 birthing hospitals in Nebraska starting in July.
“When you think about it on a large scale, there are usually about 24,000 to 25,000 births in Nebraska each year,” said Sydnie Carraher, executive director of NPQIC. “We have the potential to impact every single one of those, so it’s very, very rewarding.”
“If nothing else,” Phillips added, “we hope this project brings awareness to our families, our communities, and our caregivers so they can intervene early and get the moms and the babies the help that they need and deserve.”
For more information on symptoms to watch for and the Postpartum Alert Initiative, visit npqic.org.