Maven Members with High-Risk Pregnancies See 32% Fewer NICU Admissions

New research from the Maven Clinical Research Institute finds lower rates of two of maternity care's most consequential complications

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Maven Clinic, the world's largest virtual clinic for women and families, today announced new research from the Maven Clinical Research Institute showing that Maven members with high-risk pregnancies had 32% fewer NICU admissions and 10% fewer C-sections than a national benchmark—two of the costliest complications in maternity care.

The Institute's findings are based on a cross-sectional study comparing outcomes for 9,328 Maven members with high-risk pregnancies against 5,872 privately insured respondents from the CDC's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a nationally representative survey of women who have recently given birth. Both groups were limited to individuals with diagnoses of diabetes or hypertension, or those meeting clinical criteria for elevated risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or preterm birth — ensuring comparable risk profiles across cohorts. The findings come as employers and health plans face rising maternity costs, with NICU admissions and C-sections among the costliest and most consequential complications in pregnancy and childbirth.

The Institute also released three studies pointing to how earlier interventions during pregnancy may contribute to better outcomes. The studies found that birth planning was associated with fewer NICU admissions; members who engaged with Maven's preeclampsia program were more likely to take low-dose aspirin compared with members who did not engage with the program; and virtual doula care helped members participate more actively in decisions about their births.

Key findings include:

• High-risk Maven members who completed a virtual birth planning appointment had a 59% lower odds of NICU admission and had nearly four times the odds of actively participating in labor and delivery decisions compared with high-risk members who did not have a birth planning appointment.
• 73.9% of at-risk members who engaged with Maven's Preeclampsia Intervention Module took low-dose aspirin—compared with 63% of women nationally, per a newly launched Maven benchmark on medication adherence in pregnancy, now publicly available to researchers, employers, and health systems.
• Among members who met with a Maven virtual doula, 99% felt better able to participate in decisions about their birth; 86% felt less anxious and 58% used non-medical methods to support their labor — factors that help explain the lower C-section rates seen with doula support.

"High-risk maternity is where the human and financial stakes are highest," said Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven Clinic. "These findings show the impact of reaching women earlier in pregnancy and helping them take the actions that can reduce risk. We're building on that evidence to understand which interventions matter most, for whom, and when."

"The interventions that can change the course of a pregnancy are often straightforward: a dose of aspirin when clinically appropriate, a birth plan, a doula helping someone advocate for their care," said Dr. Neel Shah, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board at Maven Clinic. "The opportunity is making sure the right intervention reaches the right person at the right time."

Maven Clinic's maternity program gives members 24/7 access to OB-GYNs, midwives, doulas, mental health providers, and other specialists throughout pregnancy and postpartum, alongside programs designed to identify and manage risk earlier. Employers offering both Maven fertility and maternity support save an average of $9,600 per birth.

The studies are part of ongoing research from the Maven Clinical Research Institute examining how virtual care can drive better outcomes in women's and family health, including how earlier interventions during pregnancy are associated with maternal and newborn outcomes.

About Maven Clinic

Maven Clinic is the world's largest virtual clinic for women and families on a mission to make healthcare work for all of us. Through Maven Enterprise, the company partners with more than 2,300 employers and health plans to provide end-to-end women's and family health programs spanning fertility and family building, maternity and newborn care, parenting and pediatrics, and menopause and midlife, improving clinical outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and expanding equitable access to high-quality care at scale. Through its consumer virtual clinic, Maven provides direct access to virtual care across 30+ specialties, as well as dedicated hormone and GLP-1 care programs purpose-built for women.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Kate Ryder, Maven Clinic has raised more than $425 million from leading healthcare and technology investors including General Catalyst, Sequoia, Dragoneer Investment Group, Oak HC/FT, StepStone Group, Icon Ventures, and Lux Capital. Recognized for innovation and industry leadership, Maven has been named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50, Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and FORTUNE Best Places to Work. Learn more at mavenclinic.com.

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SOURCE Maven Clinic