Black Maternal Health Week 2022

April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week. This is a week devoted to improving outcomes of Black mothers, particularly during labor, birth, and the postpartum stage by increasing awareness and addressing racial disparities. Studies show that the Black mothers are 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related illness than a white woman.

One of the best ways to improve maternal outcomes for Black women is to LISTEN to them and address their concerns. Oftentimes Black women complain of headaches, pain, or generally not feeling well, and their concerns are dismissed or barely given any attention. There does seem to be evidence that seeing a Black OB or Black midwife can drastically improve maternal outcomes for Black women. Regardless of the race of the care provider, the onus to listen and treat Black women with dignity and respect is on the care provider and should be done without pause or question.

Doulas of Raleigh is committed to do a lot of listening to Black voices and implement positive change within our our roles as doulas. Again, the act of listening goes so far with any any person but it’s even more important to listen to Black women. Of course, listening to Black women without taking action is largely ineffective. If they say their care provider isn’t listening to them it’s our role to help them find someone who will listen to them. If they tell a nurse in the hospital that they are in a lot of pain, it is our role as doulas to help make sure they are heard and that they get pain relief. For some reason (just kidding we know it’s systemic racism), medical staff has a history of minimizing the pain of Black people. If the medical staff is not being clear with what options are available to the laboring Black woman, it is our role to help get clarification. If a Black women needs support with breastfeeding, it is our role to provide that support or find a lactation consultant who will work with them to meet their goals.

There are many resources both locally and online to help improve Black maternal health. Locally, we want to give a shout out to Equity Before Birth. EBB is a non-profit committed to providing community-based support for Black families during pregnancy, birth, and the weeks and months following birth. MAAME is a doula collective that works to decrease health disparities among women of color. Again, having a Black care provider can drastically improve maternal outcomes. Here a few wonderful Black OBs and midwives working in the Triangle: Tina Braimah, CNM of Sankofa Birth and Women’s Care, Stacey Walker, CNM and Tianna Greene, CNM of City of Oaks Midwifery , Stephanie Gray, CNM with WakeMed OBGYN, Beth Tyson, CNM with Duke Health Holly Springs, Latoya Lee, CNM, and Adiah Oyefesobi, CNM with UNC Midwives, and Dr. Randolph Scott, OB/GYN with Carolina Elite Women’s Care. This website is another good resource for finding a Black provider.

While there is still a long way to go in improving Black Maternal Health, the focus of BMHW will continue to raise awareness and seek solutions to improving maternal outcomes for Black birthing people.