For every 1 there was 70 more

I am 2 to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than a white woman. Since I am now 30, that number actually increases to 4 to 5 times more likely.

Studying maternal health and focusing on black women can be daunting. I often wonder about my choice of purposefully becoming a mother, not only in this current climate in the United States, but understanding all the ways that the healthcare system can fail me and has failed many like me. Being infertile and choosing to become a mother gives me pause at times but that’s a whole other story. Let’s focus!

I am a black woman, born of a black woman and hope to be a black mother one day as well.

I will be honest. When I walk into a doctor’s office, especially as a new patient, I let them know I am a college educated woman. I wear my alumni sweatshirt or strike up conversations surrounding education. Not only because these feel-like safe topics for me, but because I know the stigma surrounding black women (even though we are the most educated group in the United States). I have felt the judgement walking into a medical establishment. I should not have to feel like I need to be “on” while at the doctor’s office or hospital in hopes of receiving adequate care or not be spoken down to as soon as I enter. But that is my reality.

Even calculating for social determinants of health such as access to healthcare, education status, and quality of care there are still racial disparities that exist in all aspects of our healthcare system. These numbers are telling us a story. Thankfully over the last few years more people have been listening.

Black women have 2 times the chance of having major complications at the time of birth than white women. These are issues that can be short lived or lasting the rest of their lives.. For every 1 black woman that dies in dies in childbirth there are 70 more that almost did not make it. Many of these instances can be avoided because they are complications that should have not happened in the first place.

This is one reason I decided to become a doula and childbirth educator. I want to do my small part in saving a childbearing person’s life. Whether it’s through providing education on childbirth or being present in the room so that they are not alone and feel more empowered to ask questions regarding their health and their babies health.

I know many of yall are not stats nerds like I can be at times so here is the deal. Black women are dying at no fault of their own simply because they became pregnant. The most natural thing that you can imagine is literally killing us. What can we do? Become informed about our bodies and our healthcare choices. Know how the healthcare system works and the options you have. Get a doula, take the childbirth course no matter what number kid this is. Ask questions!! Remember, you are paying these medical professionals for a service. If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to fire them and find you someone who listens to you and those who look like you. 😊