Maternal health is not only a problem for Southern countries

In 2013, there were 1,900 maternal deaths in Europe, and one in 10 women did not have access to antenatal care. The participation of mothers is essential for addressing the challenges of maternal health, also in Europe.

MMM’s primary areas of focus in Europe are the fight against obstetric violence and ill-treatment, the prevention of obesity and the promotion of maternal mental health.

 

The fight against obstetric violence

Make Mothers Matter, in collaboration with some of its members and other European NGOs in the field, advocate for maternal health services that respect mothers, without violence and are not over-medicalised.

Also, it is important to try to establish attempts to raise awareness at the European level by providing guidelines on respectful and non-abusive care during childbirth that recognizes the link between mental and physical health, and ensures respect for human rights including the right of all mothers and their families to receive proper and quality care.

 

Prevention of obesity 

Because of its involvement in the DORIAN European Project on the impact of maternal obesity on children, MMM European delegation has been invited to take part in the European Childhood Obesity Group’s conference, to discuss childhood obesity.

MMM will collaborate with ECOG to focus attention on the role of parents in the fight against this problem.

 

Promotion of maternal mental health

In April 2017, on the World Health Day that was dedicated to depression, Mental Health Europe (MHE), MMM and the European Women’s Lobby joined forces to break the silence surrounding post-natal depression.

According to the World Health Organisation, between 10-15% of women who have just given birth, suffer from post-natal depression – including in Europe.

We strongly support WHO’s request for additional research in the field of post-natal depression as well as on the impact of obstetric violence on the psychological well-being of women.

 

 

News from the European Delegation on Mothers and Health

Why Maternal Mental Health Matters

14.03.23

Make Mothers Matter submitted its contribution to the Call for Evidence of the EU Commission on Mental Health.

Read more

A new Irish legislation for mandatory inquests into maternal deaths
“Remaking the Fabric of Care”

25.01.23

A new Act, the Coroners (Amendment) 2019 Act, was passed in full and enacted at the beginning of 2020. This law makes reporting and inquests into all maternal deaths mandatory. It also allows Coroners to go bey

Read more

Ensure Universal Access to Maternal healthcare in the European Union

18.12.22

The European Child Guarantee and universal maternal healthcare in Europe: the essential role of maternal health in the first 1000 days of child development

Read more

Single Mothers within the European Union

14.12.22

Despite the growing number of families headed by a single parent, single parents remain one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to poverty, housing and energy deficits, and health challenges.

Read more

MMM seeks academic partner for new EU Survey

06.12.22

We are searching for an academic partner for an EU survey on issues concerning mothers to be used as a lever for change.

Read more

MMM Response to the EU Care Strategy

18.11.22

We need care when we are very young or very old, experiencing sickness or disability and the people who provide this care are indispensable actors in European economies and societies.

Read more