New Resource Supporting Moms-To-Be Unveiled on World Maternal Mental Health Day
Co-Authors Degl and Davids Say 1 Million High Risk Pregnancies Yearly 'Could Benefit from Stuck in Bed'
NEW YORK, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In recognition of World Maternal Mental Health Day (May 1) and just in time for Mother's Day, maternal care and high-risk pregnancy experts Jennifer Degl, MS, and Angela Davids have released Stuck in Bed, a picture book written to support and encourage mothers (and their children) who are coping with bed rest or restricted activity, due to a high-risk pregnancy.
According to Degl and Davids, maternal health advocates, Stuck in Bed is a valuable and in-demand resource as approximately 1 million U.S. women are prescribed bed rest each year in an effort to reduce the likelihood of pre-term delivery. "While high-risk expectant mothers are monitored by healthcare providers, there is still a lack of emotional support for moms who are prescribed bed rest," explains Degl. Degl, an accomplished author and public speaker who has presented before Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the New York State Health Department's Medicaid Office to encourage the passing of legislation aimed at helping pregnant mothers and premature babies, knows the support mothers on bed rest need first-hand. At just 23 weeks gestation and only weighing 1 lb., Degl's "micro-preemie" daughter, Joy, was born after a complicated bed-ridden pregnancy. "It's beyond stressful for not just a mother to go through this, but the entire family and this is what we address in Stuck in Bed," she said.
"We're thrilled we can unveil this resource on World Maternal Mental Health Day because that's exactly what we aim to do – encourage a healthy mental state when dealing with one of the most stressful times a family could face," said Angela Davids, co-author of Stuck in Bed. Davids is the creator of KeepEmCookin.com, an educational website and online support group for women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or who are at risk of delivering prematurely. She spent a total of 21 weeks on bed rest during her two pregnancies.
Davids says mental health professionals who work with young children experiencing stress related to mom being on prescribed bed rest can also benefit from using Stuck in Bed as a tool for discussion. "The book's bright pictures, practical tips and ideas for bed rest activities were exactly what I could have used during my bed rest experience when trying to be there for my older child," she said. "This book is a way of honoring older siblings everywhere, while supporting their brave moms this Mother's Day and every day."
More about Stuck in Bed
Stuck in Bed is a collaborative partner of Better Postpartum and is a partner in The Blue Dot Project's Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week #MMHW. Speaking for Moms and Babies, Inc. and KeepEmCookin.com are members of the Preemie Parent Alliance.
More about Jennifer Degl, MS
Degl is the founder of Speaking for Moms & Babies, Inc., an organization that advocates for maternal and neonatal health by lending a parent's voice. She recently chronicled the daily struggle of high risk pregnancy in the Journal of Pediatrics article "Remembering the Power of Stories in Pediatric Research" and in her first book, From Hope to Joy: A Memoir of a Mother's Determination and Her Micro Preemie's Struggle to Beat the Odds. Degl, a mother of four, teaches science and resides in New York.
More about Angela Davids
Davids is the founder of KeepEmCookin.com, an educational organization that gives pregnant women the greatest opportunity to prevent preterm birth by providing them with current information on high-risk pregnancy and by connecting them with an online community of other women facing a difficult pregnancy. She is a mother of two and resides in Maryland.
Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, [email protected].
The Stuck in Bed co-authors are available for press interviews and bookstore engagements. Wholesale opportunities are available to healthcare providers and organizations in the maternal care field. Email [email protected] for more information.
SOURCE Jennifer Degl and Angela Davids
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