Mocha Maternal Mortality
Pregnancy is an exciting, emotional, and finite time. God has gifted the mom to be with the ability to carry life, adjust to new sleeping patterns, and rock new clothing all within 40 weeks. There are many joyous moments from confirming the pregnancy, to the gender revelation, to the opening of gifts at baby showers, and of course the birth. Never should family members have to consider planning a funeral as a result of a pregnancy complication.
We are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers,aunts, and best friends. We are designed for greatness by our Creator. We live in America and have access to the greatest healthcare in the world. However, many black pregnant women in America die due to maternal complications. The CDC calls these events pregnancy-related mortality or PRM.
So tell me why. Tell me why we die while pregnant or following a child birth.
Is it because of pre-existing conditions?
Do we not recognize the benefits of prenatal care?
Do the doctors not recognize signs of complications?
Does anyone even care?
According to the Maternal Health Task Force.
Hospitals that predominantly serve Black women tend to be under-resourced and therefore lower quality than those with a more racially diverse or a whiter patient population. According to an analysis from ProPublica, women who experience hemorrhage at hospitals predominantly serving Black patients face a higher risk of severe complications than those who receive care at hospitals with more White clientele.
Translation:
Structural inequities in health coverage access mean that today, about 5 percent of Black clients are uninsured compared to 7.5 percent of White women, impacting their access to services.
Translation:
Black women are much more likely to receive no prenatal care, or to receive it later than the first trimester, than women of any race besides American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian. Access to adequate prenatal care has demonstrable health benefits to both the mother and baby.
Translation:
Black women are more likely to suffer from hypertension and pre-eclampsia, which increase the chances of adverse health outcomes for mothers and babies.
Translation:
What can our healthcare and hospitals do?
The CDC recommends that hospitals and healthcare systems:
Implement standardized protocols in quality improvement initiatives, especially among facilities that serve disproportionately affected communities.
Identify and address implicit bias in healthcare that would likely improve patient-provider interactions, health communication, and health outcomes.
What can you do?
Pray.
Do everything you can to be healthy both before, during, and after pregnancy.
Know your health history.
You must be your own advocate…… speak up ask questions.
Share. Overshare your health history with your medical provider.
Continue to educate yourself on this issue and share with family and friends
Stay Healthy. Ask Questions. Speak up.
You are worth it. When in doubt, ask questions. Your voice leads to your safety and the safety of your baby.