Americans will spend approximately $14.6 billion this year on gifts for Mother’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation. Despite this celebration of motherhood, hundreds of thousands of women worldwide die during pregnancy and childbirth — 1 out of 5 moms die in the United States. The US ranks 50th in terms of maternal health care, meaning that 49 other countries provide better care.

Did you know?

• One maternal death every 90 seconds.

• 15% of all pregnancies result in complications during labor and delivery and sometimes are fatal.

• Pregnancy is the biggest killer of girls ages 15-19.

• For every woman who dies in childbirth, 20 more suffer from debilitating complications.

• We have the knowledge to prevent 90% of all maternal deaths.

Moms4Moms asks:   what if 1% of that $14.6 billion could be given to this cause? Leveraging the power of social media, the group plans to raise awareness and funds for the organization Every Mother Counts.

Mom4Moms and mom and supermodel Christy Turlington’s Every Mother Counts are joining together to help this Mother’s Day. 

How can YOU help?  Visit “Moms4MomsDay”  which focuses on two initiatives: micro-donating, which encourages everyone to give as little as $5, and old cell-phone donation through the group Hope Phones, which refurbishes old phones and donates the proceeds.

Moms4Moms, a movement started by Holly Pavlika, hopes to “really make Mother’s Day about moms” by promoting the allocation of at least some of the money spent on gifts to mothers in need.”  Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health.