Thanking the gentle hand that rules the world

BY JESSICA WUKASCH
I have been a daughter, a sister, a friend, a college graduate, nurse turned nurse practitioner, wife and soon I will be a mom.
By far, the mystery of motherhood has scared me the most. Other mothers must be able to relate … my body has become unrecognizable, I face unexpected physical limitations (like shortness of breath at age 32) and the most difficult of all I had to tell my employer I was pregnant, wait for their response and cancel most of my plans following my March due date.
Thankfully, I am not alone. I have a supportive husband and family. As a nurse practitioner, I have been a caregiver for many mothers who courageously experienced both pregnancy and child-rearing in isolation.
They delivered without anyone in the room other than the hospital staff and the support and well-being of the child(ren) fell completely on their shoulders. My admiration for all soon-to-be and veteran mothers has changed as I walk this journey for the first time.
On Feb. 19, I had chills after I heard the male-dominated West Virginia Senate Health and Human Resources Committee passed SB 564.
This bill expands comprehensive Medicaid coverage to pregnant women up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level and Children’s Health Insurance Program funds will reach pregnant women who fall between 185-300 percent of the poverty level.
Testimonies from advocates Cindy Beane, commissioner for the state Bureau for Medical Services and Renate Pore, a retired health policy consultant, presented compelling arguments for the working mother who does not qualify for services because she falls through this crack in coverage.
Last year, there were 600 recorded pregnant women in West Virginia who pursued coverage through local programs but were turned away due to income. Sen Ron Stollings, D-Boone, a member of the committee and a practicing physician, emphasized the need for these women to have coverage not only to have healthy pregnancies but to make sure “these kids get off to a good start.”
According to West Virginians Together for Medicaid, there are several benefits to expanding coverage to pregnant women, including better birth outcomes and fewer children at risk of out-of-home placement. In her testimony,  Beane pointed out the importance of expanding Medicaid to pregnant women during the opioid crisis in West Virginia. With this coverage, pregnant mothers struggling with substance use disorders can have a healthy and supportive outlet to discuss treatment options and receive vital social support that could help them leave the cycle of addiction and prevent their child from being removed from their custody after delivery. This is a narrow yet precious window of time for impact.
West Virginians Together for Medicaid  also says this change will increase federal funding to support women and their children in West Virginia. “For every $1 that the state invests in care of pregnant women, the federal government will provide $2.99 in federal Medicaid matching funds,” according to West Virginians Together for Medicaid.
It is stressful enough to be pregnant much less to experience the constant worry associated with the cost of medical care. Medicaid will cover routine prenatal services, counseling, support services, delivery, postpartum care, breastfeeding support and postpartum contraception. All of these services are vital for prevention, detection and mon- itoring and/or treatment of perinatal and postpartum issues and could potentially prevent a future unplanned pregnancy.
As a soon-to-be mother and a nurse practitioner, I have a deeper sense of compassion for the women and vulnerable children who will be impacted by this legislation. With great joy, on March 9, I witnessed SB 564 become completed legislation passing almost unanimously through the Senate and the House.
Now, West Virginia can prove our tax dollars support pregnant women and the unborn children who will shape the future of our state. And lest we forget, as William Ross Wallace poetically recognized more than 150 years ago, “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”
So, next time you see a mother or a pregnant woman, reconsider what she may be experiencing and open her door, give her a kind word of encouragement and thank your Legislature for giving West Virginian mothers and babies a better chance for a healthy life.
JESSICA WUKASCH  is a doctor of nursing practice student at WVU, who lives in Fairmont. This commentary should be considered another point of view and not necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion Post.