Annual Labor of Love Summit to focus on increased efforts to reduce infant mortality

The Indiana Department of Health will host the annual Labor of Love infant mortality summit in Indianapolis this month. Health professionals from across the state will gather on July 23-24 for the summit.

The theme of this year’s event is “Expecting More” – a call for more emphasis, action and collaboration in continued efforts to improve infant and maternal health outcomes.

The event will take place on July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on July 24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis.

State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP will deliver remarks both days of the summit, which will also feature panels and presentations on topics including maternal mental health, teen pregnancy, substance use disorder, infant loss and bereavement, safe sleep for infants and the benefits of breastfeeding.

The summit takes place following the release of data indicating a decrease in Indiana’s infant mortality rate to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, compared to 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022.

“Every loss of a baby is heartbreaking,” said Dr. Weaver. “The decrease in infant mortality in Indiana is encouraging and makes it that much more critical to expect more from all our ongoing efforts to better understand the root causes of infant mortality and continue work to improve the health outcomes of mothers and babies in Indiana.”

For more information, visit www.laboroflovesummit.com.

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