In 2020, Lauren Brown of Upper Darby had a high-risk pregnancy and needed an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter, Bella, writes Laura Benshoff for NPR.

Brown, who is Black and a first-time mom, got help from a national Nurse-Family Partnership administered locally through The Foundation for Delaware County.

“It was a little scary. But, being that I had the nursing group, I had my whole team at the hospital, I really felt like … my pregnancy was very smooth,” Brown said.

The program offers a solution to a deadly trend in the U.S.– a high rate of maternal mortality among wealthy countries that disproportionately affects Black Americans. 

There are 56,000 families served by the program each year.

The program pairs low-income, first-time parents with a personal nurse from pregnancy through their child’s second birthday.

The goal is to create healthier and more prosperous families, improving pregnancy outcomes.

Brown worked with nurse Christina Baker at the height of the pandemic before, during and after her pregnancy. Baker kept tabs on her patient’s blood pressure, stress levels and doctor’s appointments.

Maternal health outcomes are improved when there’s early education about pregnancy complications and multidisciplinary care for women with extra risk factors.

Read more about the Nurse Family Partnership at NPR.