Navigating Pregnancy As A Black Woman: Black Maternal Health Week

If you're an expectant black mother or recently had a baby, you've probably heard the alarming statistics from the CDC on black maternal mortality. It's becoming more and more known that black mothers die at a rate of two to three times more than white women from pregnancy-related causes. These statistics can increase with age as well.

Learning about the adverse effects of childbirth on black mothers compared to white mothers can make someone fearful of birth. Trust me; I get it! But, what you do with that information can also make a difference in the treatment in your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. These statistics are stated not to instill fear, but to bring awareness and meaningful action to combat losing black mothers to what should be a beautiful moment in their lives and not a cause of death.

Black Maternal Health Week was recognized April 11th-17th, and it was jam-packed with so many great discussions, social media panels, and facts centering around black maternal health. This week brought awareness, education, and community building among all races, not just African Americans. It gave black moms a voice that's heard—a platform for justice.

I served on a panel of doulas with The Moon Baby Show discussing the importance of doulas and how they can make a positive impact on black mothers' birth experiences. We discussed Protecting The Birth Story for mothers and what that means to each of us. Protecting a mother's birth story is going to look different for each individual because each mother will have different goals and wishes for her birth. Ultimately, it's to support, educate, hear, and respect each person, so they have a positive birth experience.

With COVID-19 in play, it is even more important to support black mothers during their pregnancies and postpartum. Medical staff and essential workers are dealing with enough stress working with potentially affected people, trying to make sure they have enough PPE to protect themselves, and still give proper support to their patients. All this in a system that historically wasn't designed to protect black mothers but often neglect them, brush them off, and not take their health seriously. For a black mother, that can seem intimidating like her wishes and desires would get put on the back burner.

The racial disparities in the healthcare system show there can be implicit and subconscious bias when it comes to black mothers and their complaints or concerns. Bias can occur no matter your socioeconomic status. We've seen the great athlete Serena Williams' birth story, where she complained of difficulty breathing postpartum, but her concerns were initially dismissed. What medical staff initially disregarded ended up being a pulmonary embolism.

To combat black maternal mortality, understand the various reasons why black women die from pregnancy-related causes at higher rates. The lack of access and poor quality of care for those of low economic status. The lack of adequate prenatal care. The physical and mental health of black mothers during pregnancy and postpartum that occasionally does not get addressed or mitigated with sufficient and accessible resources. Systemic racism that still lingers in the hospital systems targeting black women and women of color before they even step foot in the door for their first appointment.

Knowing the issues black women face in pregnancy and birth is one thing. Taking action against them to bring awareness and education is another matter. We can see something is wrong, but if we don't do something about it, change doesn't happen. And by we, I don't just mean black women. You don't have to be a black woman to see wrongful acts, know they exist and say something about them.

It's like the unattended luggage at the airport. "See something, say something." It is a community effort to address and right the wrongs that began decades ago to make sure black mothers not only come out of pregnancies, births, and postpartum phases alive, but that they thrive!

Given all this information, you can still have a positive birth experience as a black woman! Yes, the statistics can be alarming, but that is not everyone's end story or experience. You can take steps and precautions during pregnancy to make sure you have a provider that not only hears you but supports your decisions.

Find support groups in your area that can help you mentally through those postpartum days that seem like they will never end, so you know you are not alone in your feelings. Charlotte has so many free resources. I can help you with a few as well. Start taking the initiative to live a healthy lifestyle. Ask your provider, are they aware of the statistics of black maternal mortality and question what are they doing to improve the statistics. What does your provider know about racial bias in the system against black women? Are they even aware?

Not only challenging your providers and medical staff to let them know you are aware and taking charge of your health, but you will hold them accountable too. If you voice a concern and it goes unattended, request that noted in your medical records and why for accountability. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself when it comes to matters of your and your baby's health and well being.

Having an encouraging, knowledgeable, and supportive birth team can help you have a positive birth experience as well, whether that be a loved one, a doula or a friend. Statistics have shown negative birth experiences can lead to postpartum depression and anxiety, which contribute to the mental health issues black women face.

As a doula, I will be cheering in your corner so that you not only go through your journey and come out alive but that you thrive! I will make sure as a black doula that I will do what I can so that those who look like me won't be disregarded, dismissed, and taken advantage of. As a black woman and a black mother, it matters even more to me because it is me.

Motherhood can and should be a beautiful journey that you enter into, not something that you fear. You can have a beautiful, positive birth experience. You can have the resources you need to take the edge off of the postpartum phase. Seek out the support you need, and don't be afraid of needing or accepting help.

We got this. You got this. Speak up and speak out to change the narrative for black mothers and keep the conversation going until change happens.