From stigma to support: transforming care for moms and newborns

PHOENIX (STN) – When a woman suffering from substance use disorder gives birth, stigma and prejudice can lead to poor treatment and outcomes for both the mother and her newborn.

“These are our moms, these are our wives, these are our sisters, these are our daughters, these are our friends,” said Mercy Care CEO Tad Gary during a panel discussion on the November episode of ‘It Happens at STN.’ “We need to lead with compassion and empathy first and foremost.”

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, roughly half of all pregnancy-associated deaths are related to mental health conditions or substance use disorders. However, the same 2020 report noted that 98% of those deaths were preventable.

Preventing those deaths is Tara Sundem’s, and her team at Phoenix’s Hushabye Nursery, mission.

“Our mission is to serve pregnant and parenting families that are struggling with substance use,” Sundem said.

The problem, according to ‘The Wellness Collective’ panel—which included Gary, Sundem, and physician Dr. Sara Salek—is that the medical system often stigmatizes pregnant women suffering from substance use disorder. That same stigma can affect newborns experiencing withdrawal.

“When families find out they’re pregnant and struggling with substance use, [there’s] no hope,” Sundem said. “Babies are fun; babies should be exciting. We should be celebrating them instead of stigmatizing families.”

Dr. Salek explained that one of the most successful treatment approaches at Hushabye Nursery is simple but is often overlooked.

“There’s no doubt that the best science is keeping mom and baby together whenever possible,” Dr. Salek said. “There’s good evidence to support keeping the mom and baby together in order to prevent future issues, including both physical health and mental health conditions, based on hundreds of years of science.”

Since launching its programs in 2020, Hushabye has seen success. According to its data, more than three-quarters of mothers involved in prenatal treatment maintain custody of their children—an estimated 300% improvement over the national average.

With Hushabye’s success as an example, Gary said entire communities should change how they treat moms suffering from substance use disorder.

“These are our moms, and they deserve much better than what they’ve received,” he said. “Building collaboration within our community to develop innovative models and programs really improves the outcomes and moves the numbers in the direction we want.”

Sundem agreed. “We can do better, we should do better, and every baby deserves a chance at a healthy start.”