TCU Med School Highlights Maternal Health Research
The Burnett School of Medicine at TCU featured recent breakthroughs in maternal health research from its faculty and students. The discussion spotlighted clinical research projects, including improved risk assessment protocols and new prenatal interventions. The school is positioning itself as a leader in addressing the maternal mortality crisis through research and clinician training.
- A significant contributor to the maternal mortality crisis is the shortage of maternity care providers, with over a third of Virginia's counties classified as "maternity care deserts" lacking adequate access to obstetric services. In response, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 35% growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners between 2024 and 2034, a rate much faster than the average for all occupations. - In Virginia, recent legislation reflects a growing recognition of the role midwives can play in addressing care shortages. As of July 2025, House Bill 1904 allows certified nurse-midwives and other advanced practice providers to staff 24-hour on-call nursery care rosters, a move intended to help keep rural labor and delivery units open. - Further legislative action in Virginia aims to improve both access to and the financial viability of midwifery. House Bill 1923, also effective in July 2025, mandates that private insurance and Medicaid reimburse Licensed Certified Midwives (LCMs) and Licensed Midwives (LMs) at the same rate as Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) for the same services. - Evidence-based practices central to midwifery have been shown to improve birth outcomes. Midwife-led care is associated with lower rates of C-sections, preterm births, and low-birthweight infants. Key practices include continuous labor support, encouraging freedom of movement during labor, and avoiding elective inductions unless medically necessary. - The maternal mortality rate in Virginia was 32.7 per 100,000 live births between 2018 and 2022. Significant racial disparities persist, with Black women in Virginia experiencing a maternal mortality rate more than double that of white women. - Digital health platforms and telehealth are emerging as key tools to improve maternal outcomes. Technologies like remote monitoring devices for conditions such as postpartum hypertension, and mobile apps like Babyscripts, are being used to increase patient engagement and allow for earlier intervention. - The Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) actively advocates for legislative changes to support the profession. Their efforts were instrumental in the passage of bills expanding midwives' scope of practice, such as allowing them to administer medications like Pitocin and RhoGAM, which are crucial for safety in community birth settings. - The North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator, a $25 million initiative co-led by the Burnett School of Medicine, is tackling the issue of blood transfusions, a leading cause of severe maternal complications. Their initial research found that providing free prenatal iron supplements, rather than just recommending them, can reduce the need for blood transfusions during childbirth by nearly one-third.
