Most people will agree that being a mother is the world’s hardest job. It’s a 24/7 role with no breaks, even when moms have supportive partners and paid help. Because a mom never really stops being a parent even when someone else is helping care for her child.
But the difficulty of being a mother starts long before direct care. For those who get pregnant and give birth, the physical, mental, and emotional toll starts on day one of conception. And moms experience an even heavier invisible load without medical intervention, health insurance, and the infrastructure.
Medicaid Expanded Postpartum Coverage for New Moms
As of 2026, Medicaid, the government health care program that provides free or low-cost medical coverage to eligible low-income adults and children, has extended postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months in almost every state.
This act aims to reduce maternal mortality, which reached its 50-year peak in 2021 at nearly 33 deaths per 100,000 live births. Maternal mortality is a woman’s death during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy. Key causes of maternal deaths include:
- High blood pressure (preeclampsia and eclampsia)
- Hemorrhage
- Cardiovascular issues
- Suicide and homicide
- Drug overdose
- Infection
While maternal mortality rates have dropped to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2024, the U.S. still has a high ratio (nearly three times the amount) compared to other high-income countries like the U.K., Germany, and Japan. And the risk for women older than 40 and women of color face a higher risk compared to other demographics.
The expansion of Medicaid for mothers hopes to address critical postpartum health issues that occur after the traditional 60-day window, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. Currently, the only states to not implement this extension are Wisconsin and Arkansas.
Pregnant Women Have More Access to Medical Care Through Technology
Medicaid is also providing expecting mothers with additional health access through remote and digital means. Many states have apps that offer:
- Live chats with nurses
- Remote monitoring
- Pregnancy tracking
- Educational resources
- Lactation support
- Other benefits
Telehealth integration reduces the logistical burden for those who lack transportation, lack support, or live in medical deserts (a rural area with limited access to essential healthcare services). Virtual visits increase the amount of care for these women who may have gone without simply because they couldn’t leave home or get to a provider.
Likewise, most private health insurance companies have specialized pregnancy and postpartum apps for their members. Many of these link to members’ insurance data to identify high-risk conditions early. For no extra cost, members can make video appointments with mental health professionals, nutrition coaches, and other specialists. And many providers incentivize members with gift cards for completing prenatal and postpartum screenings through the platform.
Additionally, some insurers are providing blood pressure monitors, fetal dopplers, heart rate monitors, smart thermometers, and nasal aspirators to reduce the risk of certain complications. Though free maternal tech isn’t a new concept, as breast pumps became a mandatory insurance benefit under the Affordable Care Act, these additional maternity-related tools help.
Declining Early Prenatal Care
However, it’s not all good news. Despite insurance and technological advances, there has been a decline in the timing of when mothers seek care. More expectant mothers are waiting until after the first trimester to seek prenatal care. Some of the driving forces in the decline include:
- A rise in maternity care deserts
- Shortage of providers
- Insurance gaps
- Transportation or financial barriers
- A growing distrust in the medical establishment
Even when a woman discovers she’s pregnant, it can take weeks before she can get an appointment. Many doctors set the first visit between 8 and 12 weeks, when a heartbeat is detectable by Doppler or ultrasound.
Additionally, many providers have a fear of legal liability for managing pregnancy complications after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022. This concern isn’t exclusive to doctors and medical staff, as some moms are worried that they could face criminal actions if they have a loss, which is most common in the first trimester.
Delaying prenatal care is typically associated with low birth weight (three times more likely) and fetal or infant death (five times more likely). Likewise, delaying prenatal care until the second trimester significantly increases maternal mortality risk.
Recognition of the “Invisible Load” By Medical Professionals and Society
Since the dawn of time, mothers have carried the disproportionate weight of raising children. Along with the basics of feeding, cleaning, and keeping them alive, modern mothers are in charge of the often unseen (and therefore unrecognized) duties of:
- Managing schedules, like doctors’ appointments, days off from school, extracurriculars, etc.
- Organizing events including birthday parties, gift shopping for holidays, and extended family members (and teachers), etc.
- Planning activities from figuring out what kids are doing after school to over the weekend and even on family vacations.
- Anticipating needs, such as buying clothes before kids outgrow them, picking up groceries before the fridge is empty, etc.
- Decision making, like researching daycares, vaccines, and parenting solutions.
While the term “invisible labor” was first coined in the 1980s, similar phrases like “mental load” and “emotional labor” didn’t start appearing in popular media until 30 years later, in the 2010s. And only after the COVID-19 pandemic, when circumstances magnified the massive unequal weight of household management, did this vocabulary become mainstream.
So, now practitioners are moving toward a model that acknowledges the cognitive load with new clinical protocols like assigning a community health worker to those who indicate they are unsupported or recommending digital tools to couples to help better balance household duties.
Some states are pushing for policies that see stay-at-home parents as a job, and giving these mothers tax credits, stipends, or expanded benefits in recognition of their economic value.
Moving Forward for Maternal Advocacy
The shift toward recognizing the logistical and emotional burdens of motherhood marks a turning point in public health. By combining extended Medicaid coverage with intuitive technology and a societal validation of the invisible load, the goal is to move beyond mere survival. Supporting mothers effectively means ensuring that no parent has to manage the complexities of health and household entirely alone.
By Admin –