Consensus Statements

IPN has successfully convened numerous groups of experts and concerned individuals to develop policy documents addressing many of the complex perinatal issues in our state. Once completed, these documents are reviewed and approved by our State Perinatal Advisory Board comprised of more than 70 key individuals and organizations influencing perinatal care throughout the state.

List of IPN Consensus Statements:

• Indiana Emergency Department Guidelines for Pregnant Women: June, 2010; Guidelines for evaluating and managing pregnant women to optimize outcomes for her and her unborn baby.

• Levels of Hospital Care: October, 2008; Promotes risk-appropriate inpatient perinatal care. Includes recommendations for appropriate consultation, referral and transport and criteria for services offered at Level I, II, III A, III B, III C, and III D obstetric and neonatal units.

• Perinatal Loss: April, 2008; Identifies the needs of women and families experiencing perinatal loss and recommends evidence-based standards of care and practice wisdom that promote respect for families and positive coping strategies. Executive Summary

• Prenatal Care Guide: 2008; Covers screening, education and counseling; aimed at clinicians involved in the design and implementation of prenatal care services.

• Family Support: April, 2007; Alerts and informs health care providers on the need for family support during the perinatal period. When families experience high-risk pregnancies, the births of babies needing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) support, the diagnoses of special-needs infants and perinatal losses, their needs must be assessed to allow for appropriate interventions, referrals and support.

• Best Intentions: April, 2007; Unplanned Pregnancies and the Well-Being of Indiana Families: addresses the complex issue of unintended pregnancy by exploring its consequences and the contributing factors. Underlying position statements demonstrate the need for common-ground solutions. The report presents a plan centered on actionable and measurable goals for Indiana and specific recommendations for the general public, health care providers and public policy makers.

• Substance Use Disorders & Pregnancy Consensus Statement: March, 2007; Poor birth outcomes related to substance use are 100 percent preventable. This consensus statement informs on the incidence and significance of substance abuse during pregnancy and recommends at the public policy, provider and consumer levels.

• Born to be Breastfed: Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding in Indiana: September, 2005;Breastfeeding Call to Action that contains strategies, recommendations and implementation guidelines to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and the provision of breastmilk throughout Indiana.

• Postpartum Depression Full Report: April, 2005; An alert on the incidence and significance of depression and other mood disorders women can experience during and after pregnancy Executive Summary

For more information, contact Caitlin Priest at 317.924.0825 x4231 or cpriest@indianaperinatal.org, or Larry Humbert at 317.924.0825 x4224 or lhumbert@indianaperinatal.org.