Washington Releases 2025 Maternal Mortality Review Panel Report: What WA Families Need to Know—and Why In-Home Prenatal & Postpartum Nursing Has Never Been More Critical by Childress Nursing Services
- CNS
- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Overview
The Washington State Department of Health has published the 2025 Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) Report, offering a comprehensive review of the factors contributing to pregnancy‑related deaths statewide. This year’s findings are significant and sobering: 82% of pregnancy‑related deaths in Washington were preventable, representing a 2% increase from the previous reporting cycle. These deaths were linked not only to medical complications, but also to long‑standing gaps in access, continuity of care, and community‑based support.
🔗 Full report: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/141-253-MaternalMortalityReviewPanelReport-2025.pdf
🔗 DOH summary: https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/department-health-releases-2025-maternal-mortality-review-panel-report
Key Findings From the WA DOH 2025 Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) Report
Several themes have remained consistent across reporting cycles and are reinforced in the 2025 report:
82% of pregnancy‑related deaths were preventable, emphasizing missed opportunities for early intervention.
Many deaths occurred outside traditional clinical settings, particularly in the home.
The postpartum period remains the highest‑risk time, extending months beyond delivery.
Behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorder and suicide, continue to be leading contributors.
Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist, disproportionately impacting Black, Indigenous, and low‑income families.
Importantly, the report formally recommends strengthening community support services, including home visiting programs—a critical acknowledgment that clinical care alone is not enough.
CNS HELPS™: Built Before the Report, Aligned With Its Findings
CNS HELPS™ (Home Evaluation & Learning Prenatal and Postpartum Service) was developed years before the release of this newest report. It was created because Childress Nursing Services has long recognized the very gaps the MMRP continues to document.
The 2025 report confirms what CNS has witnessed firsthand for nearly a decade: families need earlier, more consistent, and more equitable in‑home support throughout pregnancy and the postpartum year.
Prenatal Care: Laying the Foundation for Recovery & Healthy Development
Healthy pregnancies significantly reduce postpartum complications and improve infant outcomes. CNS HELPS prioritizes prenatal support as the foundation for long‑term maternal and infant health.
Childress Nursing Services' Prenatal (during pregnancy) services include:
Skilled in‑home nursing assessments and monitoring
Maternal lab screenings and chronic condition risk identification
Education on warning signs, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and hydration
Prenatal mental and emotional health screening using D‑S.M.I.L.E.™
CNS CradleSafe™ home readiness and safety preparation
Support for partners and caregivers preparing for birth
Care coordination with OBs, midwives, fertility clinics, primary care and other perinatal care providers
Early, consistent prenatal pregnancy support directly addresses preventable risks highlighted in the MMRP findings. This structured program can start as early as 7 weeks pregnant (or with official early pregnancy confirmation letter) and the most comprehensive care package includes weekly visits.
Postpartum Care: Supporting Families During the Highest‑Risk Period
The MMRP continues to show that most pregnancy‑related deaths occur after delivery. CNS HELPS maintains ongoing support throughout the 1st year postpartum, when families are often navigating recovery, mental health changes, and infant care simultaneously.
Childress Nursing Services' Postpartum / Postnatal (after baby delivery) support includes:
Ongoing skilled home-based nursing assessments and monitoring
Maternal and infant lab screenings & maternal chronic condition management
Postpartum recovery education on warning signs and sleep
CNS Baby Gets Moving™ postpartum movement and nutrition support
Postpartum mental and emotional health screening using D‑S.M.I.L.E.™ and escalation pathways
CNS CradleSafe™ infant sleep/play home safety and readiness
Newborn care teaching and infant development guidance
Chest/breastfeeding education & support with clinical referral pathways
Care coordination with OBs, midwives, primary care providers, pediatricians, and other community postnatal care providers
Visit frequency and duration are individualized based on clinical need and coverage, allowing flexibility as best practices evolve.
Improving Equity Through Access & Insurance Coverage
CNS is in‑network with over 200 health insurance plans, including Apple Health and major commercial insurers. This broad coverage reduces financial barriers and expands access to in‑home skilled perinatal nursing, an equity priority repeatedly emphasized in maternal mortality reviews.
A Message From Founder & Healthcare Administrator,
Quiana Daniels, RN
“Each maternal mortality report tells us that families require earlier, more consistent, and more culturally responsive support, both before birth and long after. CNS HELPS was built years ago, because we saw these patterns firsthand. My mission is to expand the role of the Family Home Nurse and ensure that every parent has access to skilled, compassionate, in‑home skilled nursing care that promotes safety, healing, and healthy infant development." states Quiana Daniels, RN and Founder / Healthcare Administrator of Childress Nursing Services
For Healthcare Providers
CNS HELPS serves as a clinical extension into the home, strengthening continuity of care and supporting early detection of complications. You can join our no-cost, growing network of perinatal providers for special access and early updates or simply, refer a patient today!
🔗 Refer a patient to our CNS HELPS program: https://www.childressnursing.com/providers
For Expecting & Postpartum Families
If you are pregnant or recently delivered, consistent skilled nursing home support can change outcomes.
Talk with your pregnancy support healthcare provider about a referral to CNS HELPS. With broad insurance coverage, in‑home nursing care may be available to you.
🔗 Learn more: www.ChildressNursing.com/cnsHELPS