Abstract
80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, with many resulting from inequities.1 Pregnant populations, such as Black mothers, are dying at a disproportionate rate: 49.5 maternal deaths/100,000 live births.2 M-NEST: The Maternal Newborn, Essential Support Team, provides a community-based supplemental pregnancy program that includes risk assessment, mental health services, doula care, and guaranteed basic income (GBI).3
M-NEST is a person-centered, multidisciplinary team approach with GBI addressing structural inequities. Each team member meets with the pregnant person during the pregnancy and postpartum period. Virtual team meetings are conducted to discuss the continued plan of care.
The public health nurse assesses, advocates, and acts as the M-NEST lead. Achieved through person-centered goal setting, built/home environment/nutritional risk assessments, anticipatory guidance for pregnancy symptoms, biometric measurements, escalation of care, and medical service referrals.
The doula is a trained community member who prioritizes rest, nourishment, and connection with the pregnant person, carried out through culturally congruent non-medical care for physical and emotional well-being, holding space for pregnancy/birth storytelling, health navigation/advocacy, lactation education, assistance with domestic tasks, and baby holding.4
The mental health counselor facilitates emotional well-being through one-on-one counseling, patient goal setting, mental health and substance use disorder risk assessments, social service consults, and community support group referrals.5
Notes
References:
1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing pregnancy-related deaths. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/preventing-pregnancy-related-deaths
2. Hoyert DL. Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2022. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2024. DOI: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/152992
3. UN Women. Universal Basic Income: Potential and Limitations From a Gender Perspective. UN Women. 2021
4. Sobczak A, Taylor L, Solomon S, et al. The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39451. doi:10.7759/cureus.39451
5. Trost SL, Beauregard JL, Smoots AN, et al. Preventing Pregnancy-Related Mental Health Deaths: Insights From 14 US Maternal Mortality Review Committees, 2008–17. Health affairs. 2021;40(10):1551–9. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00615
Sigma Membership
Psi at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional, Interdisciplinary, Policy, Advocacy, Maternal Death Prevention
Recommended Citation
Aungthein, Khin; Belin, Carrie; Curnin, Annemarie B.; Mariano, Melanie; and Whitten, Shannon, "Essential Community-Based Support for Pregnant Populations at Risk: M-NEST" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 23.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/23
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Essential Community-Based Support for Pregnant Populations at Risk: M-NEST
Seattle, Washington, USA
80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, with many resulting from inequities.1 Pregnant populations, such as Black mothers, are dying at a disproportionate rate: 49.5 maternal deaths/100,000 live births.2 M-NEST: The Maternal Newborn, Essential Support Team, provides a community-based supplemental pregnancy program that includes risk assessment, mental health services, doula care, and guaranteed basic income (GBI).3
M-NEST is a person-centered, multidisciplinary team approach with GBI addressing structural inequities. Each team member meets with the pregnant person during the pregnancy and postpartum period. Virtual team meetings are conducted to discuss the continued plan of care.
The public health nurse assesses, advocates, and acts as the M-NEST lead. Achieved through person-centered goal setting, built/home environment/nutritional risk assessments, anticipatory guidance for pregnancy symptoms, biometric measurements, escalation of care, and medical service referrals.
The doula is a trained community member who prioritizes rest, nourishment, and connection with the pregnant person, carried out through culturally congruent non-medical care for physical and emotional well-being, holding space for pregnancy/birth storytelling, health navigation/advocacy, lactation education, assistance with domestic tasks, and baby holding.4
The mental health counselor facilitates emotional well-being through one-on-one counseling, patient goal setting, mental health and substance use disorder risk assessments, social service consults, and community support group referrals.5
Description
An innovative community-based approach to improve maternal health in at-risk pregnant populations. Learn about M-NEST team members' roles and responsibilities and potential for positive impacts on maternal health, along with the benefits of guaranteed basic income to foster agency and improve self-esteem.