5 Things You Need To Know About Black Infant And Maternal Healthcare
Racial bias comes in a variety of forms and impacts nearly every industry and organization. Although recent events have put a spotlight on racism present amongst police officers, that unfortunately isn’t the only arena in which Black Americans experience the effects of racial prejudice. Maternal healthcare is one industry in which Black women have disproportionately poorer outcomes compared to white women. That’s right, we’re talking about moms and babies experiencing prejudice and racism, sometimes leading to death.
The healthcare that women receive during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is so important, not only for the mother, but for the health of her baby. Due to both societal and systemic health practices, it is more difficult for Black women to access quality maternal healthcare.
Here are 5 things you should know about Black infant and maternal healthcare:
- Black women are 3-4 times more likely to experience a pregnancy related death than white women.
- Black babies have an infant mortality rate that is 2.3 times higher than white babies.
- Black women are 2 times more likely to receive delayed or no prenatal care than white women.
- 75% of Black women give birth in predominantly Black-serving hospitals. These hospitals have higher rates of maternal complications than other hospitals.
- 22% of Black women report discrimination after visiting a doctor’s office or hospital.
And the fact of the matter is, Black women from all walks of life have experienced the ill effects of racism while growing their families.
The most well-profiled example is tennis player Serena Williams, inarguably one of the greatest athletes of all-time (don’t @ us). Serena had a horrific experience giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017. Despite having access to the highest quality healthcare, she experienced life-threatening complications after her cesarean birth.
When Serena found herself unable to breathe, she had to advocate for herself to be given an oxygen mask and demanded a CAT scan, the latter of which identified she was experiencing a pulmonary embolism. Had Serena not spoken up and taken charge (something a mother should not have the responsibility of doing during childbirth) she would have died.
Serena talks about this experience in her HBO documentary ‘Being Serena’, and her and her husband Alexis Ohanian are helping pave the way in the struggle for equality for Black moms. They are huge advocates for paid paternity leave, and they’ve invested in a project aimed at improving women’s maternal health, with a focus on reducing Black infant and maternal mortality.
During this crucial season in our nation, as we collectively take time to learn and educate ourselves on the issues facing our Black brothers and sisters, it’s crucial we consider the obstacles specifically affecting Black mothers and their babies.
High quality healthcare IS A RIGHT that should be afforded TO ALL. It’s up to all of us to be actively anti-racist, to fight for true racial equality, and to create a safe, healthy space for Black families to grow and thrive.
RESOURCES:
https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/reports/black-womens-maternal-health.html
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=23
Ashley & the team
CLEbaby was established in 2015 to help Cleveland area families have positive, supportive experiences during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Our wide range of services means that there's something for everyone. And our skilled, compassionate doulas, childbirth educators and sleep trainers deliver unmatched care, ensuring you're confident and set up for long-term success. At CLEbaby, we want families to not only survive early parenthood but thrive.