Photo © Pexels/Shvesta: Mother and Child Alliance
New and expectant mothers have a lot on their plates. Planning for birth is an exciting time, but with so much to do, there’s often room for disaster.
For example, imagine a mother eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby, only to discover that an undiagnosed and untreated infection could threaten the health—or even life—of her child. Tragically, this is becoming increasingly common in Illinois due to the sharp rise in congenital syphilis cases. However, hope is on the horizon thanks to funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Cook County Department of Public Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, and the Mother and Child Alliance (MACA).
25 years in the fight
This year marks MACA’s 25th anniversary of service. Founded in 2000 as the Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative with an initial $1 million donation, MACA has expanded its mission beyond HIV prevention to target other serious perinatal infections, such as syphilis.
The organization is a proven safety net for mothers, working with all birthing centers and maternity hospitals across Illinois to provide a network of care for pregnant and postpartum individuals. The strength of this network comes from the over 20,000 nurses and healthcare providers, trained to help identify, treat, and support cases of perinatal infections.
Outside of saving the lives of new mothers and their babies, MACA has made an incredible impact in the public sphere, driving groundbreaking public health achievements like the implementation of the Illinois Perinatal HIV Prevention Act, which mandates early prenatal and third-trimester HIV testing and has dramatically reduced perinatal HIV transmission rates. Now, MACA is applying its successful model to help eliminate congenital syphilis.
Call the Warmline
Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant individual with untreated syphilis passes the bacteria to their baby during pregnancy. This isn’t a mild condition that clears up on its own—it can have devastating consequences. Before birth, untreated syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. Up to 40 percent of babies born with congenital syphilis may die from the infection if it isn’t caught and treated in time.
It’s not just Illinois, either—nationally, congenital syphilis has increased by 203 percent since 2017. But Illinois is sounding the alarm, and IDPH is taking action. That’s where the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline comes in. Available Monday through Friday, this dedicated phone line provides clinical consultation to healthcare providers who care for pregnant patients and newborns.
Here’s how it works: The warmline offers expert advice on testing, diagnosis, and treatment and coordinates with healthcare providers who can access past testing and treatment information, giving them a complete picture of their patient’s health. The added benefit is that the warmline helps providers stay on top of reporting so that public health officials can monitor and address outbreaks effectively. This means that every call made could save lives.
For families expecting a new baby, this means peace of mind. Early testing and treatment can be the difference between a healthy child and lifelong health challenges. Parents-to-be are encouraged to talk to their healthcare providers about syphilis testing and treatment options as part of routine prenatal care, with repeat testing during the third trimester and treatment where necessary. Awareness, early diagnosis, and timely treatment are key to safeguarding a baby’s future.
But we all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe. Supporting organizations like MACA means lifelines like these can be accessible to those who need them most.
For more information, visit motherandchildalliance.org or call the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline at 1-800-439-4079.
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Mother and Child Alliance (MACA) provides comprehensive support to pregnant women and their families – before and up to 24 months after delivery. Prenatal and postpartum services ensure no babies are born with life-threatening and costly preventable diseases in Illinois.