• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Community Voices / OPINION: How to keep your mom (and all the women you love) alive and healthy

OPINION: How to keep your mom (and all the women you love) alive and healthy

May 8, 2019 by Dr. Michelle Graham, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Leave a Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

National Women’s Health Week takes place from May 12 to May 18. (Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.

Dr. Michelle Graham, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, offers tips on improving the health of women in Wisconsin.

Mother’s Day is part of the springtime cycle of renewal and rebirth.

It’s also an ideal time to think about ways to help improve the health of  women in Wisconsin and nationwide and honor the important role they play in their families’ well-being. Promoting the health of women, infants and children is a fundamental priority for our county, especially efforts to reduce the number of women and babies who die before, during or after childbirth.

The U.S. infant and maternal mortality rates rank lower than those of many other developed nations, lagging behind countries such as Australia, Canada and even Lithuania. In Wisconsin 6.0 babies die (before age 1) per 1,000 live births,, according to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings®.

To recognize Mother’s Day and National Women’s Health Week (May 12-18), here are five tips to consider to support the health of all women, especially expectant and new mothers:

Schedule a well-woman visit: About two-thirds of women each year receive a well-visit nationally, with the rate in Wisconsin at 67.5 percent. These annual visits can include important screenings, counseling and immunizations based on age and risk factors, while providing an opportunity to discuss with your health professional ways to encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Mammograms matter: One in eight American women will get a breast cancer diagnosis at some point in her lifetime, and most cases are detected by a mammogram before symptoms appear. According to the National Institutes of Health, the five-year breast cancer survival rate has increased significantly in recent years, now reaching more than 90 percent. For patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent. 

Take charge of your health: This means eating well, staying active, getting sufficient sleep and limiting stress as much as possible. For expectant mothers, the U.S. surgeon general advises that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy, and smoking is unsafe for you and your baby. For support, your health plan may have programs and online services at no additional cost that can help you adopt a healthier lifestyle or, if needed, improve the management of chronic conditions, which is especially important for expectant women.

Avoid early or elective deliveries: For expectant mothers, it is important to understand the risks associated with elective deliveries before 39 weeks of pregnancy and their potential impacts. Studies have shown that early, non-medically indicated cesarean (C-section) deliveries are linked to a higher risk of complications, including infection, hemorrhage or blood clots, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Babies born before 39 weeks are more likely to have respiratory problems and developmental delays, according to a published study.

Know your maternity benefits and rights at work: If you work full time and plan to return to your job after your baby is born, it is helpful to know your company’s maternity leave policy. The Family and Medical Leave Act enables mothers and fathers who have worked at least one year for a company with 50 or more employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off, while many employers offer full or partial paid leave. Under the law, your employer is required to give you the same – or the substantially equivalent – job back after your leave.

We’ve celebrated Mother’s Day for more than 100 years. By considering this information, we can continue supporting the health of women and honor them for their important contributions to our communities.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Community Voices

Avatar

About Dr. Michelle Graham, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in