The maternal health issues confronted in the mountains of eastern Kentucky by Mary Breckinridge and her team of nurse-midwives nearly 100 years ago continue to challenge the region and state today.

Join KET this month for a special forum, hosted by Renee Shaw, that examines Kentucky’s maternal health and explores what might be done to improve the childbirth process and health outcomes in both rural and urban areas.

Maternal Health: A KET Forum airs on Monday, Oct. 18, at 8/7 pm on KET and on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 9/8 pm on KET2.

The forum features a panel of maternity care providers and birth advocates who will discuss how we can expand the childbirth options available to women across the state, lower rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, increase access to midwives and doulas, and address racial disparities.   

The panel of guests includes:  

• Susan E. Stone, DNSc, CNM, president of Frontier Nursing University 
• Mary Kathryn DeLodder, parent advocate with Kentucky Birth Coalition  
• Coy Flowers, M.D, FACOG, obstetrician-gynecologist with UK Healthcare 
• Renee Basham, Doula, executive director of Hope’s Embrace  (pre-taped)
• Damara Jenkins, APRN, CNM, director of nurse midwifery at UofL Health (pre-taped)
• Kazia Bryant, Doula, program manager of Black Birth Justice (pre-taped)
• Takesha Stokes, mother  (pre-taped)
• Mary Karen Stumbo, lost her mother to childbirth (pre-taped)

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