Every Mother Counts: A Heartfelt Mission to Transform Maternity Care

In a world where maternal health is rightfully recognized as a human right, the journey to achieve respectful and equitable maternity care remains fraught with challenges. Despite the global strides and declarations by authoritative bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the reality for many women and birthing individuals during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives can be starkly different—marked by disrespect and mistreatment.

Amidst this landscape, Every Mother Counts (EMC), a compassionate organization founded by Christy Turlington Burns, stands out as a beacon of hope and change. EMC was born from a personal crisis—after Turlington Burns herself faced a life-threatening postpartum complication, she was propelled to tackle the pervasive issues plaguing maternal health. What makes EMC profoundly impactful is its core strategy: listening to mothers and birthing people. This simple yet powerful approach is what guides their mission to foster safe and dignified maternity care for all.

Understanding and Addressing the Gaps

EMC's work is deeply embedded in the principle of birth justice. This framework champions the empowerment of women and birthing people, enabling them to make informed choices about their childbirth experiences. It’s a call to action against the racial disparities that still significantly taint the maternal health landscape. By elevating voices that are often marginalized, EMC strives to bring light to these injustices and pave the way for equitable care.

The Power of Storytelling and Advocacy

At the heart of EMC’s strategy is storytelling. Through powerful narratives, they illuminate the pressing issues within maternal health, fostering a collective understanding and empathy. These stories are not just tales of challenges and disparities; they are also stories of hope and resilience that inspire action. Alongside storytelling, EMC actively mobilizes communities to push for crucial policy changes, aiming to reshape a system that often overlooks maternal voices.

Investing in Community-Led Innovations

EMC believes in the strength of community-led solutions. By supporting models of care such as midwifery and doula support, they advocate for practices that respect the wishes and needs of birthing individuals. Their efforts underscore the importance of integrating these models into mainstream healthcare systems, ensuring that every mother has access to respectful and personalized care.

Toward a Future of Equity and Respect

The initiatives led by EMC are more than just interventions; they are stepping stones towards a transformative change in the landscape of maternity care. By centering the needs and voices of mothers and birthing people, EMC champions a healthcare environment that prioritizes dignity and autonomy.

The challenges are significant, but the path EMC charts is filled with potential. The key takeaways from their endeavors remind us of the crucial need to listen actively, address systemic inequalities, and implement policies that enshrine dignity at the heart of maternity care.

As Every Mother Counts continues its vital work, it serves as a poignant reminder that in the realm of maternal health, empathy, equity, and empowerment are not just ideals—they are essential pillars that can uphold the sanctity of life at its very beginning. Let’s stand together to ensure that every mother counts, truly and always.