Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms.
But on Thursday, April 10, the American Heart Association and First Source Federal Credit Union in Utica, New York, teamed up to make the postpartum time easier for women. As part of their support for the Go Red for Women Luncheon, First Source presented 25 American Heart Association New Mom kits to Mosaic Health, a federally qualified health center.
The kits contain a self-monitoring blood pressure cuff, an Infant CPR Anytime kit, a reusable grocery bag and a QR code that provides links to information about services like WIC and SNAP.
“We’re proud to be presenting 25 New Mom Kits, created by the American Heart Association, to Mosaic Health today,” said Pamela Way, community engagement manager for First Source Federal Credit Union. “First Source is a longtime supporter of the American Heart Association and the work they do right in our community. A big part of our mission is to give back to the communities we serve. Every child deserves a healthy mother, and these New Mom Kits as an investment in the Mohawk Valley. It’s our honor to provide them to Mosaic Health.”
“For 21 years, Go Red for Women has been improving women’s heart health,” said Dr. Cynthia Jones, medical director of Mosaic Health and president of the board of directors of the American Heart Association in the Mohawk Valley. “We are learning more about maternal health, and the risks that pregnancy and the postpartum period bring to the heart. At Mosaic, we are committed to providing our postpartum patients with the best care we can. These New Mom Kits will let them monitor their health in these early days of child-rearing, setting them and their babies on a course toward better health.”
Staff at Mosaic Health will identify the patients who will benefit the most from the kits, and work with them to use them.