Mom.com is kicking off a monthlong initiative around Black Maternal Health as we strive to raise awareness of the inequities Black women face. I’m not going to mince my words here: Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to the medical inequities Black pregnant women face, Black moms also experience societal and economic barriers that significantly impact their wellness prenatal and postpartum.
As a Black woman, I was well aware of these alarming statistics, and the idea of giving birth in a hospital felt like I was facing my mortality. Similar to having “the talk” with my family about social injustice, I talked with my husband about the realities of medical gaslighting, unconscious bias by healthcare providers, and the importance of advocating. Overcome with fear, I spent my pregnancy preparing a will and meeting with an attorney to establish my medical power of attorney.
While I had a healthy pregnancy and labor, that wasn’t the case for all of my friends (unnecessary medical interventions, negligence). Nor did we all receive the postpartum care and support all women deserve (lack of lactation support, hostile and toxic workplaces). And for so many more Black women, their experiences are far worse and even fatal.
The conversations around black maternal health and the realities Black women face are taking place every day in the privacy of their homes, but it’s time to bring these issues to light — it could literally save lives. Black women deserve to have a voice when it comes to their medical care, and more importantly, Black women deserve to have access to quality healthcare and resources.
And that’s why Mom.com is dedicated to raising awareness, amplifying the voices of activists and experts, highlighting organizations working to close the maternal health gap, and providing viable and useful resources for our audience. And the conversation won’t stop at the end of the month.
It is my sincere hope that this platform reaches moms everywhere and saves lives, or simply gives a mom the support and resources they so deserve. So stay tuned and join the conversation as we nurture a community and advocate for equality for all moms.
Forever your mommy friend,
Amaya Woodley
