Piedmont empowers women during Maternal Health Awareness Month

May marks Maternal Health Awareness Month – a month dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of maternal health and to recognize the challenges mothers face before, during and after their pregnancy.

Patricia Moore, MD, FACOG, medical director, Informatics, Women's Health and member of Piedmont’s OB/GYN Clinical Governance Council, believes it is important for expectant mothers to focus on their health and well-being during pregnancy. “One of the best things expectant mothers can do is focus on the same foundational habits that support health at any stage of life—while recognizing that they are even more important during pregnancy,” said Dr. Moore. This includes aiming for close to eight hours of sleep each night, eating a healthy and well-balanced diet that minimizes processed foods and emphasizes fruits and vegetables, and engaging in regular, low-impact exercise. Making time to connect with friends and family is also important. Together, these habits support both physical and mental well-being and help prepare the body and mind for labor.

Pregnancy brings many changes, most of which are normal, but it is important to listen closely to your body. If something does not feel right, patients should reach out to their physician. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Piedmont has a variety of Clinical Governance Councils with one specifically focused on Obstetrics and Gynecology. Clinical Governance Councils are designed to facilitate physician collaboration, drive quality and safety strategy, align physicians with service and stewardship missions, and improve patient care as a collective network.

The OB/GYN Clinical Governance Council has led several important initiatives to support healthy pregnancies across Piedmont. This includes standardization and education around obstetric emergencies, particularly those related to severe bleeding at delivery and critically elevated blood pressure. The group has also focused on standardizing screening for postpartum depression and identifying resources physicians can share with patients who experience mental health concerns during and after pregnancy. In addition, Piedmont is actively evaluating ways to better support patients during labor through enhanced education and support.

The OB/GYN CGC launched a Maternal Hypertension Task Force in January 2026 aimed at establishing a reliable, system-wide approach to the recognition and management of high blood pressure in pregnant and postpartum patients. In conjunction with the systemwide Hypertension Steering Committee launched in June 2025, this work focuses on enhancing readiness, accelerating early recognition, standardizing evidence-based responses, and supporting safe post-discharge monitoring. This work is critically important because cardiovascular conditions and hypertensive disorders are the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia.

“During Maternal Health Awareness Month, we encourage patients and families to use this time to learn more about warning signs, ask questions, and partner closely with their care teams,” Dr. Moore said. She believes trusted resources such as the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Hear Her campaign, along with Piedmont’s educational programs, classes, and community supports, can help ensure patients feel informed, supported and empowered before, during and after pregnancy.

As a nonprofit health care system, Piedmont exists to serve its communities. And that’s not just providing care within the walls of our clinics, our hospitals and our ambulatory network. It’s everything that we do for our communities to improve the health and well-being for those we serve. At Piedmont, patients can expect maternity care designed entirely around you, from the classes you want, the specialists you need, and the locations convenient to you. Piedmont offers a variety of educational support, including childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, and infant care classes. You can expect maternity care personalized just for you, classes that will support you on your journey and specialists you can rely on for helpful information and tips.

To find a physician, go to piedmont.org to schedule an appointment today.