Happy Black Maternal Health Week 2023!
If you haven’t heard, there is currently a maternal health crisis plaguing the United States. This crisis is affecting mamas of color at alarming rates. Black mothers, specifically, are at a much higher risk of experiencing maternal mortality and poor maternal health outcomes than any other race. Research has shown that pregnancy or postpartum complications, emergencies occurring during labor, unsafe abortions, infections, suicide, and inequities in the health care system have contributed to this, despite being preventable at times.
Awareness has been spread widely regarding this, yet the birth narratives for many Black mamas are being told for them. A narrative that exclusively focuses on the poor outcomes of birth. While it is important to talk about this, it is also important to bring light to the positive ones too. The joyful ones during every stage of pregnancy.
Black Maternal Health Week was created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA) to recognize and bring awareness to Black maternal health issues on a national level and increase efforts to address them. From April 11 – 13, various activities are held by individuals, communities, and organizations to amplify Black mama experiences and engage in community activism with a special theme each year. This year’s theme is Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy.
In honor of this, we spoke with 7 Black mamas with different birth and pregnancy experiences who shared their joyful birth-related stories with us to kick this week off strong! Here’s a snippet of what they said:
Pregnancy After Infertility…
“I tried to get pregnant soooo many times but I just didn’t. The doctors ran tests and said I probably should consider adoption or living with no kids. And that didn’t sit right with me. It didn’t sit right with my God!”
-Black Mama of 3 Healthy Baby Boys
Labor…
“I had such a supportive environment when I gave birth. I was surrounded by love because I chose who would be there for me and not who wanted to be there for me. Don’t let that one go over your head. That impacted my labor a lot.”
-Black Mama of 1
C-Section at Hospital…
“I had a Black doctor who listened to me! Educated my family! She protected me and my baby.”
-Black Mama of a Baby Girl
Natural Home Birth…
“I brought my baby into this world in such a beautiful way. There were no restrictions or distractions, and I felt nothing but love, support, and respect while doing so.”
-Black Mama of a Baby Girl
Birth with a Doula…
“I love my doula! She had my back when I couldn’t or felt confused or lost.”
-Black Mama of 1
Again, it’s important to not only bring light to the uncomfortable truths and realities of Black maternal health but also to ensure that the joys and beauty in childbirth among Black women are celebrated, too.
Let’s restore Black autonomy and joy.
Happy Black Maternal Health Week!
