Accidental overdose is a leading cause of death for new moms in the U.S.
There is a clear need to make resources more accessible to help moms with substance use disorder or in recovery.
Here, find resources for new and expecting moms with substance use history to support them through pregnancy, post-partum, and the first year of parenting as well as evidence-based interventions and high-value resources for service providers.
Resources for New and Expecting Moms
Statewide System Resources
Pregnancy, Postpartum, Infant Safety, and Family Support
Residential and Specialized Substance Use Support for Pregnant & Parenting Women
Prenatal Care, Addiction Medicine, Harm-Reduction Care, and Medication-Assisted Treatment
Resources for Providers
We summarize the latest research on evidence-based interventions and high-value resources for service providers.
Substance Use and Pregnancy
Childbirth and Early Postpartum
A comparison between similarly-sized communities and maternal health resources.
Maternal Health-Specific Resource Assessments for Your Community
The Public Science Collaborative team has updated our Recovery Readiness Assessments to include assessments specific to maternal health for communities across Iowa.
These reports can help you:
- Understand your local substance-use recovery landscape.
- Compare your community’s resources to similar-sized cities and towns.
- Identify areas that may need additional support.
Find your community’s assessment at the link below!
Further Guidance
The World Health Organization provides guidelines for the identification and management of substance use and substance use disorders in pregnancy.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has released a strategic plan identifying Iowa's strategic priorities to improve the lives of pregnant and birthing mothers, which includes addressing mental health and substance use disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) provides tools to help local health departments communicate about substance use during pregnancy and address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including virtual trainings, communication guides, handouts, and webinars.