Lucas County services aim to help mothers, infants

TOLEDO, Ohio — In honor of Maternal Health Awareness Day, the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (TLCHD) is sharing the warning signs for mothers who could be at risk of health complications.

According to the experts, for one-thousand births in Lucas County, there were more than five fetal deaths, and more than 12 percent of babies were born prematurely. Additionally, the top two leading causes of infant deaths are premature birth and sudden infant death syndrome.

The health of moms and babies are important, said Kendra Kec, the TLCHD Director of Childhood Wellness, after a review of Lucas County’s 2024 fetal deaths. Two cases showed signs of high blood pressure in the mother that went undetected. 

She said moms need a proper support system who can help them spot the warning signs.

“There are more people out there to serve,” Kec said. “Moms are getting pregnant, and we want to make sure that our services are reaching everyone. Because we would like our mortality rate to be zero.”

Kec said the major causes of death among pregnant women can include,

• Hypertension
• Blood clots
• Pre-eclampsia
• Heart issues.

Warning signs can include:

• Dizziness
• Trouble breathing
• Swelling
• Aches and pains

The Maternal & Child Health Division at the health department are working to spread awareness and get resources to as many moms as possible, to prevent to next death. 

One of the TLCHD resources includes the Lucas County Wic Offices, which gives access to urgent warning sign screenings.

The Wic Program Director Clark Allen said WIC services, medical care and health screening, and social services are available to every mother with an infant or child under age 5.

“It is our passion to have moms who have healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies,” said Clark Allen, the Lucas County Wic Program Director. “That’s a part of what we strive to do. I think we do a really good job at it here. Not only locally but across the state.”

Allen said a mother’s health is directly connected to the babies. 

“Because maternal health is related to so much to birth outcomes. How healthy mom is while she is pregnant is going to determine how healthy babies are too. These are the reasons, we ask the questions,” said Allen.

You can find resources and a full list of Maternal health risk and warning signs on the health department’s website.