It's Black Maternal Heath Week: Here's why it matters

April 11th through April 17th is Black Maternal Health Week, and if you're sitting around wondering "Why do we need an individual health week for Black Women? Why don't we focus on overall Maternal Health or Maternal Health for People of Color?" Let me answer that for you:

There are specific problems and experiences that Black women have that all mothers do not, mothers of color or otherwise. (Remind me to come back to discuss why 'People of Color' is not the flex term for inclusion that everyone thinks it is.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
"Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. Social determinants of health prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health."

THREE TIMES. That is a frightening statistic that needs to be addressed and addressed properly. Black Women deserve to make it home with their babies just like everyone else. A doctor's bias or a nurse's racism or disparities in the health system should not prevent a family from having all of its members healthy and safe. 

It matters for the families of Kira Dixon Johnson, Dr. Shalon Irving, Yolanda “Shiphrah” Kadima, Amber Rose Isaac, Tatia Oden French, and so many others who should have gone home with their babies but instead passed away. 

Wondering what you can do to support birthing folks you love? Here are a few recommendations from the CDC:

Pregnant people and families can:

Make sure you speak with your healthcare provider if anything "doesn’t feel right" or is bothering you. Tell them about everything. You cannot heal what you don't reveal.
Seek immediate attention if you are experiencing any of the urgent maternal warning signs, including "severe headache, extreme swelling of hands or face, trouble breathing, heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge, overwhelming tiredness, and more." Those symptoms possibly indicate potentially life-threatening complications that should be addressed right away.

Make sure you document and share pregnancy history during every medical care visit for up to one year following delivery.

Maintain your regular healthcare and social support systems before, during, and after your pregnancy.

Other recommendations from the CDC:

"Healthcare providers can:

Ask questions to better understand their patient and things that may be affecting their lives.
Help patients, and those accompanying them, understand the urgent maternal warning signs and when to seek medical attention right away.
Help patients manage chronic conditions or conditions that may arise during pregnancy like hypertension, diabetes, or depression.
Recognize unconscious bias in themselves and in their office.
Address any concerns patients may have.
Provide all patients with respectful care.

Hospitals and healthcare systems can:

Identify and address unconscious bias in healthcare.
Standardize coordination of care and response to emergencies.
Improve delivery of quality prenatal and postpartum care.
Train non-obstetric care providers to ask about pregnancy history in the preceding year.

States and communities can:
Assess and coordinate delivery hospitals for risk-appropriate care.
Support review of the causes behind every maternal death.
Identify and address social factors influencing maternal health such as unstable housing, transportation access, food insecurity, substance use, violence, and racial and economic inequality."

For more information, head to the CDC.