Arkansas moms get a boost with new supply kits for newborns

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Nurses at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have started distributing Mother & Infant Supply Kits to new mothers at the UAMS Health Medical Center.

These kits, designed to support infant health and safety, include essentials like baby shampoo, wipes, diapers, nursing pads, and thermometers.

Following a successful pilot program, the Arkansas Center for Women & Infants’ Health at UAMS plans to expand the distribution to the state’s other 33 birthing centers, tailoring the rollout to each community’s needs. The goal is to have the kits available at all Arkansas birthing hospitals by the end of the summer.

The initiative is part of a legislative package supported by Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, approved in March 2024. “The senator has been an amazing ally in our efforts to improve Arkansas’ high infant and maternal mortality rates,” said Nirvana Manning, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “The funding that he has secured for Arkansas will help us save lives of women and children in our state.”

The center, which serves as an umbrella organization for UAMS’ statewide efforts to combat maternal and infant mortality, aims to ensure that every woman in Arkansas has access to necessary care and resources for healthy pregnancies and safe births.

In addition to the supply kits, the center has introduced “I GAVE BIRTH” bracelets for postpartum moms at UAMS. These bracelets, which include a QR code linking to educational resources, serve as a visual cue to healthcare providers and emergency responders that the wearer has recently given birth and may still be at risk for complications.

“We are starting at UAMS to make sure we have our processes in order before taking on new hospital systems,” said Manning. “We are committed to implementing this at every delivering hospital in Arkansas to ensure mothers and infants have all the resources they need to successfully navigate the postpartum period.”

The third phase of the project, the Proactive Postpartum Support Call Center, is set to launch in May. This initiative will provide postpartum women with timely support and care coordination, including direct calls from teams to reinforce health information and address any postpartum concerns.

“We could not be more excited to bring these needed resources to our state,” Manning said. “We are so thankful for Senator Boozman’s support and look forward to seeing Arkansas be one of the safest states in which to have a baby.”