ST. LOUIS, MO - The 2023 March of Dimes Report Card gives a failing grade to both St. Louis City and St. Louis County based on the current state of maternal and infant health. Additionally, the preterm birth rate among babies born to Black women is 1.5 times higher than the rate among all other babies.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis is embarking on a mission to improve maternal and infant health through their new Women's Wellness Center. The new center focuses on comprehensive access to expanded and coordinated care for all women at every stage of pregnancy and throughout their entire wellness journey. The center, with funding from SSM Health Foundation – St. Louis, is an unparalleled, one-of-a-kind place providing empowered and compassionate care regardless of insurance status to all women in the St. Louis region.
Recognized by Newsweek as one of the two best hospitals for maternity care in the St. Louis region, SSM St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis now offers dedicated care coordination for every patient. The team collaborates with patients to understand their unique needs and preferences, including prenatal, postpartum or behavioral health care and proactively arrange any care or services necessary.
Women’s Wellness Center resources include:
- Women’s Behavioral Health - supports women’s behavioral health care before, during and after pregnancy through psychiatry services, mood disorder clinic and more.
- Telehealth - advanced technology to improve access to expert maternal care while removing the inconvenience of extended travel.
- The Fourth Trimester Integration and Transition (FIT) Center - provides Postpartum Care up to two years after giving birth. The Center will focus on the management of conditions critical to a healthy postpartum recovery, such as hypertension, diabetes, and postpartum depression.
- Doula Support - offers access to doulas who bring personalized, holistic, and quality care to families during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
- OB/GYN Services - full-service prenatal care at any stage of pregnancy with state-of-the-art facilities and access to a range of family resources. Care coordinators also help guide women to providers supporting high-risk or various gynecological needs.
- Peer Support Program - peer led support groups for women dealing with overwhelming aspects of life during and after pregnancy, including a MOMS Line, MOMS Groups, breastfeeding support, and centering pregnancy.
“Our goal is simple: improve outcomes for women and their babies in St. Louis by providing coordinated care, and access to resources throughout their wellness journey,” says Donna Spears, Regional Director of SSM Health Women’s Health. “We have the experience, a highly qualified team of experts, and the compassion needed to provide the most comprehensive care in the region."
The Women’s Wellness Center is open to new patients now. New and expecting moms, postpartum women, and patients seeking other specialized care for women can request an appointment using the online Women’s Wellness Center appointment request form or call us at 314-768-8780.
