Connecticut Launches I Gave Birth Bracelets to Reduce Maternal Deaths

Connecticut just rolled out a statewide program that hands out bright orange “I Gave Birth” bracelets to new mothers when they leave the hospital. These bracelets, meant to be worn for up to 12 weeks after birth, give clinicians and first responders an instant heads-up about possible medical complications during that critical postpartum window.

This move comes after troubling data made it clear that most pregnancy-related deaths in Connecticut are preventable. More than half of these deaths actually happen after delivery—something many people don’t realize or talk about enough.

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Why Connecticut is Acting Now

Between 2015 and 2020, the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that nine out of ten pregnancy-related deaths could have been avoided. The average maternal mortality rate during that time was 15.6 per 100,000 live births.

More than half of these deaths happened in the postpartum period. That’s a huge gap in care and awareness for new moms.

The Silent Threats Facing New Mothers

Mental health struggles are the leading cause of postpartum deaths, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Substance use disorders
Perinatal psychosis

Too often, these issues slip by unnoticed or untreated until things get really bad. Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani says the bracelets help bridge a “recognition gap,” giving emergency responders crucial context when helping women who’ve just given birth.

Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health

National numbers paint a grim picture: Black women die from pregnancy-related causes at nearly three times the rate of White women. In cities like Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, these disparities are even more pronounced.

It’s tough to ignore how much this ties back to healthcare access, money, and old, stubborn systemic inequities.

Tracking Outcomes to Improve Equity

State officials plan to track maternal outcomes by race, geography, and insurance status. They want to cut preventable deaths and close those stubborn gaps that hit women of color hardest in places like Waterbury, Norwich, and Meriden.

The Bright Orange Bracelet Program

The bracelet’s color and message were standardized through teamwork between the Connecticut Hospital Association and the Connecticut Perinatal Quality Collaborative. This idea builds on earlier pilot programs from Hartford HealthCare and Trinity Health of New England.

Those pilots showed that a simple, visible alert system for postpartum moms can really make a difference.

How the Bracelet Works

When new mothers leave the hospital, they get the orange bracelet and instructions to wear it for 12 weeks. If they run into problems—like heavy bleeding, severe headaches, chest pain, or a mental health crisis—the bracelet lets any clinician or EMS provider know they’re in a high-risk postpartum period.

Connecting Health Care and Social Support

This bracelet program is just one piece of a bigger maternal health strategy in Connecticut. Other efforts include:

Extending Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum
Paying attention to social determinants of health
Screening for mental health and offering support services
Boosting patient advocacy and education
Better data tracking to spot trouble areas

Community Impact Across Connecticut

Folks expect the program to help families all over the state, from Danbury and Stamford in the southwest to Middletown and New London along the coast. By getting hospitals and public health agencies to work together, Connecticut’s trying to set the pace in maternal health safety.

Looking Ahead

Connecticut’s rollout of the “I Gave Birth” bracelets feels like a real shift in how we approach maternal health. Instead of waiting for problems, the state wants to get ahead of them.

Leaders hope these bracelets will raise awareness and give a quick visual cue for postpartum risk. Maybe it’s a small thing, but they believe it could save lives and finally start to chip away at those stubborn inequities.

For families in Hartford County, along the Shoreline, and everywhere in between, this is more than just a bright orange band. It’s a lifeline during those intense weeks after birth, and honestly, it’s a pretty bold statement about Connecticut’s promise to stand by mothers when it matters.

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Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut Tackles Maternal Mortality With Statewide “I Gave Birth” Bracelets

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