The International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence Grand Rounds Podcast

In this episode of Perinatal Grand Rounds, hosted by the Star Legacy Foundation, Executive Director Lindsay Wimmer speaks with Cynthia Sparks, RN, certified breastfeeding counselor, case manager, and founder of Mainline Maternity Care in the Baltimore area. Cynthia shares her powerful journey from becoming a teen mother to building a nurse-led, community-based maternity care model that supports families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and maternal mental health. She discusses the gaps in education and access that families face, the impact of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and the importance of holistic, multidisciplinary care. The conversation also explores systemic disparities in maternal health, the role of community partnerships, and how organizations like Mainline Maternity Care and the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence are working to improve outcomes through education, empowerment, and integrated support systems.

In honor of Memorial Day, Star Legacy Foundation and the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence welcome Dr. Lakeatta Tong, a retired Air Force nurse and founder of Airman’s Angels, for a powerful conversation on perinatal loss within military families. Drawing from over two decades of service in maternal and child health, Dr. Tong shares insights on grief, pregnancy after loss, mental health, military culture, and the importance of compassionate support systems for service members and their families.