Wayne State Enacts COVID-19 Response Team for Pregnant Women

Few times are as overwhelming in a woman’s life as when she’s preparing to give birth. Couple that with a global pandemic and overwhelming can quickly become unmanageable. Expectant moms are facing unique challenges during these strange times like concerns around being exposed to COVID-19 at their obstetricians’ offices, whether they’ll be allowed a birthing partner when it’s time, and having enough supplies for themselves and their newborns. 

Wayne State University’s Office of Women’s Health and its Make Your Date team have collaborated to enact a COVID-19 response team to connect expectant and new moms with the resources they need like transportation to and from doctor’s appointments – or even just an ear to bend.

WSU’s Make Your Date program works to reduce preterm labor and infant mortality in Detroit. By surveying women enrolled in the program, the Make Your Date team found that one-third of expectant moms need food assistance and 25% need help with baby supplies or transportation.  

“We’ve assembled resources for food, transportation, medical and mental health support, and even items for the baby,” says Office of Women’s Health Associate Vice President Sonia Hassan, M.D., also a professor of maternal-fetal medicine.

“With our volunteers, we will stay in contact with these moms – by phone or online – to help them through the coronavirus scare. We are confident that this effort will make a tremendous impact on an extremely vulnerable population at this time.”

Volunteers will connect with up to five women and keep in touch with them throughout the pregnancy and after delivery, acting as a resource guide. The COVID-19 response team is meant to be an added resource not a medical or clinical program; women in the program should continue to visit with their regular OB-GYNs.

Hassan says, “One of our team members will contact you, explain the program’s details and take you through the list of medical, food, transportation and other resources you may need. Of course, we are also here for you if you just need someone to talk to.”

To sign up for the program, expectant moms should visit makeyourdate.org, call 313-577-1000 or email info@makeyourdate.org