ALPENA — While data shows mothers in Northeast Michigan receive less than adequate prenatal care, local groups are working to combat the numbers.

In Alpena County, the three-year average number of mothers who received less than adequate prenatal care from 2016 to 2018 was 93, according to the most recent Kids Count Data Book, a statewide report on child wellbeing. That’s up from 57 for 2008 to 2010.

That data is based on the Kessner Index, which measures the quality of prenatal care based on the month it began, the number of prenatal visits, and the length of the pregnancy.

In Presque Isle County, the number of mothers without adequate prenatal care increased from 19 in 2008-10 to 31 in 2016-18, while Alcona County’s numbers increased from 20 to 25 in that time and Montmorency County’s numbers climbed from 17 to 29.

That could be because women aren’t aware of or can’t access prenatal services available, said Wynne Tezak, a physical therapist at Thunder Bay Therapy and Sports Medicine who specializes in pelvic health and often works with pregnant women.

“They’ll have a lot of back, rib, or hip pain, and I think either them or their doctors think it will possibly go away after they have the baby, so advise to just deal with it for now, but, in a lot of cases it gets very severe,” Tezak said as an example. “I think a lot of doctors and patients don’t realize there’s so much we can do in physical therapy and it can make their pregnancies so much easier and joyful.”

At the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, the Early Head Start program offers no-cost services to children from birth to age 3, pregnant women, and their families.

Kelly Mowery, Early Head Start area manager for Alpena and Montmorency counties, said NEMCSA is currently looking for prenatal families to be enrolled in the program. She said the group usually has only one to two families a year with mothers who are pregnant, and are always trying to recruit more moms.

Like Tezak, the Thunder Bay physical therapist, Mowery said the organization struggles to recruit and find pregnant mothers who need guidance, especially during Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. She said mothers may not be as aware as they could because they are not seeing their program flyers, and they are unable to reach these women at events where they set up informational booths.

“We believe that the parent is the child’s first and best teacher, so, prenatally, we support and guide mom throughout her pregnancy and prepare her for delivery,” Mowery said. “We really focus on trying to find as many prenatal moms as we can, so it’s encouraging knowing that they’re out there, but it’s sad they’re not receiving our services.”

NEMCSA’s services are provided through weekly home visits that promote the parents’ ability to support the child’s development through fun and educational activities. They connect women to resources like a baby pantry, a food pantry, or Women, Infants, Children.

They also offer socialization events where other moms and staff have the chance to talk about topics concerning newborn care. All socialization events have transitioned into virtual visits because of the pandemic.

Moms need more than formal programs, said Taylor Oliver, coordinator at Moms Need Moms, a support group for mothers in the Alpena area. Oliver said the most monumental way someone can support a mom is to help her to not feel alone.

“This is a huge change in a woman’s life, and it can be very lonely,” Oliver said. “See her. Don’t just see her growing belly. See her eyes. Don’t just ask how the baby is, or how the kids are. Ask how she is. Don’t ask if she is doing OK. She will say she’s fine. Know that she is having a hard time and ask her how you can be there for her today, even if it means doing her dishes.”

Among many of the activities that the Moms Needs Mom hosts, Oliver said, the group has invited trained women such as Tezak, of Thunder Bay Therapy, Michigan State Police Trooper Ashley Simpson, who specializes in car seat safety, Lauren Talent, a children’s counselor, and others to speak on the issues that matter most to moms.

Support from the group is offered in different ways like going to a friend’s house to wash her dishes, or bringing meals to new moms who have just had a baby.

“All throughout the year, what’s actually deemed most important by the moms who attend our group themselves is our biweekly meetings where we come together over coffee and brunch for discussion that sometimes does, but doesn’t always, center on our kids, and for friends who we know have our back,” Oliver said.

Read the 2020 Kids Count Data Book county profiles here.

Meakalia Previch-Liu can be reached at 989-358-5680 or mprevich-liu@thealpenanews.com.