Black Maternal Health Week: How We Can Support Pregnant Individuals Together

Every year, hundreds of Americans die during pregnancy or in the year immediately after giving birth, and thousands more have unexpected outcomes during labor and delivery. These often result in serious consequences to their health.

The staggering reality is that 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Even more troubling, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the CDC. At EvergreenHealth, statistics like these further solidify our commitment to providing the safest, highest quality care possible at every moment, recognizing the systemic inequities and challenges Black women have historically faced that have contributed to this crisis.

During Black Maternal Health Week, which runs from April 11-17, we're raising awareness of these health disparities and sharing ways we can uplift Black women and their families as part of our commitment to making pregnancy and childbirth safe, dignified and joyful.

"At EvergreenHealth, we recognize our patients' health needs, and we remain committed to providing high-value, high-quality care to every parent and child in our community," said Danielle Henderson, DO, the executive medical director of Women's and Children's Care at EvergreenHealth. "Black women in the U.S. have a significantly higher mortality rate from birth-related complications. Quality and safety are our top priorities, which is why everyone at EvergreenHealth Family Maternity Center works tirelessly together and with every patient to end these life-threatening disparities in maternal care."

What We Can Do

While individualized attention to each and every patient along with a thorough understanding of risk factors is important to us 365 days of the year, Black Maternal Health Week is a chance for health care professionals across the nation to reflect on the importance of asking questions and better understanding their patients and factors that may be impacting their lives.

Since 2019, EvergreenHealth has been partnering with Ariadne Labs—a joint center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health—on the Team Birth Project, an innovative program focused on empowering parents and all members of the birth team to initiate communication and inspire more collaborative teamwork to achieve better outcomes.

What You Can Do

Improving maternal health, especially for Black women is a shared responsibility that we take seriously. There are also a number of things the CDC suggests pregnant people and their loved ones do at home to ensure you are looking after your own health:

• If you are feeling unwell or experiencing a symptom that is concerning, talk to a health care provider as soon as possible.
• Learn about urgent maternal warning signs and seek immediate care if you begin experiencing any of these symptoms, which could indicate a potentially life-threatening complication. Symptoms could include:
  • Persistent headache that gets worse over time
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Alterations in vision
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Extreme swelling in hands or face
  • Severe vaginal bleeding or discharge
  • Severe belly pain
• Make sure you communicate recent pregnancy history with your health care provider during every visit for up to one year after your delivery.
• Connect with health and social support systems as soon as possible, even if you are not pregnant but are considering becoming pregnant.

More Resources for Black Maternal Health Week

The organization behind Black Maternal Health Week is Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), which founded the week in 2018.

BMMA has a robust list of resources geared toward helping Black individuals before, during and after pregnancy.

Here is a list of other organizations that are also working to make a difference:

• Being the Village focuses on creating an inclusive support system for pregnant individuals who can share their experiences openly.
• Melanin & Milk is a group geared toward creating a safe and supportive space for you and your baby as well as any lactation help you need.
• Black Moms Connection is a global online community where you can seek support from your peers during pregnancy and through to the toddler years.

Additionally, EvergreenHealth offers a number of pregnancy and birth classes that help you care for your health and wellness while pregnant and teach you about labor and giving birth. We also have weekly Parent-Baby Groups for after you give birth, which provide a safe and supportive space for new parents to share their experiences and discuss important topics related to taking care of their new babies as well as themselves.

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