January 23, 2026
Media Contact: Kimi Stevens, kimi.stevens@vdh.virginia.gov
Holding Ground on Maternal Health
Chesapeake Health District Delivering Hope on Maternal Health Awareness Day, January 23
CHESAPEAKE, Va.– The Chesapeake Health Department renews its commitment to protecting mothers and supporting healthy families before, during and after pregnancy. Through preventative services, access to care, and postpartum support, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) can help address issues such as high blood pressure, substance use, mental health, and chronic conditions to make pregnancy and the postpartum period safer and healthier for all families.
A simple start to a healthy pregnancy for all women of childbearing age is to take a daily supplement with folic acid. Folic acid will help reduce the risk of birth defects to a baby’s spine and brain.
In 2022, 67 women in Virginia died from pregnancy-associated causes. Pregnancy-associated means during or up to one year after pregnancy, regardless of the cause of death or outcome of the pregnancy. The mortality rate for Black and Hispanic women is twice that of white women.
“As a pediatrician, I am encouraged to see the focus on maternal health,” said Dr. Nancy Welch, Director, Chesapeake Health Department. “Early support of mothers during pregnancy has significantly improved birth outcomes and post-partum success. Studies also show that prevention and pre-natal care have a positive impact on the long-term cost of health care across the board.”
VDH is working hard to reduce the number of maternal deaths, as well as avoidable health complications that families face. The Chesapeake Health Department offers a variety of pregnancy and postpartum resources to support families and physicians.
Virginia WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, supplemental nutritious foods, counseling at WIC clinics, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children. WIC – Women, Infants and Children – Chesapeake Health District
In Virginia, nine home visiting models are available to eligible families. These models are free services where trained professionals visit expectant and new families in their homes. They provide personalized support, parenting guidance, health and development checks, and connections to community resources, including improved access to food and employment. Families can visit the Early Impact Virginia (EIV) directory to get connected to services.
BabyCare Home Visitation connects you with registered nurses, offering resources, personal support and experienced care in-home, online, by text and phone from pregnancy until your baby is two years old. BabyCare – Chesapeake Health District
If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, reach out to the Chesapeake Health Department BayCare Team at at (757) 382-8652 or email ChesapeakeBabyCare@vdh.virginia.gov. Staff are available to help guide families toward a healthier pregnancy.
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