Focused Postpartum Care (Focused-PPC) Pilot in Indiana

Maternal mortality in Indiana remains elevated, with most deaths occurring postpartum (after birth). Women in Indiana face significant barriers to accessing comprehensive postpartum care, especially for lower-income, rural, and racial minority women. Comprehensive postpartum care for mothers is critical. Relevant to the Kellogg theme of human development, our proposal involves a pilot implementation of the first group postpartum care model up to one year after birth in the United States. This model includes a more consistent and comprehensive approach to postpartum care, with group sessions occurring within 2 weeks after birth, 6 weeks, and monthly thereafter until one year. Each session includes clinical assessments, education, and peer support between postpartum mothers. The model will be piloted in four obstetric care practices in Indiana. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of this group postpartum care model, and other health-related outcomes such as mental health, blood pressure, postpartum health behaviors, among others.