Black Maternal Health Week (Day 3): Advocacy and Knowledge

As we embark on Day 3 of Black Maternal Health Week, it’s also important to think about the importance of advocacy and knowledge. We should advocate for the Black mother who is in the realm of Maternal Health, be it the prenatal, perinatal, or postpartum journey. Not only should we be advocating on behalf of this mother at appointments, during labor and delivery, and also with the delivery of effective services; we also should be encouraging a Black mother to learn how to advocate for herself. The only way to do this is by making sure that Black mothers are provided with the necessary knowledge to equip her to advocate for herself.

Yesterday I touched briefly on the statistics for pregnancy loss in Black women. Today, I will share some overall statistics, which will hopefully help you assist a Black mother in gaining knowledge about why Black Maternal Health is an area that requires continued advocacy. And if you happen to be a Black mother yourself, these stats are good for you to know so you can evaluate where you fall on the spectrum of statistics, and you can use your voice to make sure you are getting the treatment you need and deserve. Let’s look at a few stats for Black women shall we?

·       We are 2 times more likely to experience a pregnancy loss during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy

·       After 20 weeks of pregnancy, we are 3 times more likely to lose that pregnancy

·       We are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications

·       We are 2 times more likely to experience postpartum depression and/or anxiety

·       None of the above statistics are solely due to low socioeconomic status, lack of higher education, or lack of attending prenatal appointments.

·       Black women who are highly educated, have higher incomes, have great health coverage and care, and attend prenatal appointments regularly fall into the above statistics.

·       Black women experience these complications WITHOUT pre-existing health conditions.

Just these stats alone should open our eyes to this being a race issue that is rooted in institutional and systemic racism. Knowing this, it is important to make sure that Black women know how and when to advocate for themselves in an attempt to not fall into one of the above statistics.

WHEN to advocate:

Black women should advocate early on and often. At the beginning of a pregnancy, Black women should make sure they are getting their questions answered, feeling heard and seen by the medical staff, and feeling comfortable with the level of prenatal care they are receiving. Black women should also advocate throughout the different stages of pregnancy to ensure that things are continuing to go in the direction they are comfortable with. Mid pregnancy questions that arise should be asked, concerns should be addressed, and the Black woman should continue to feel heard. Late in pregnancy, and even during labor and delivery, the continuation of addressing concerns should remain in the forefront. AND, the person who is her support during labor and delivery should not be shy in speaking up on behalf of the Black mother during the vulnerable time of delivery.

HOW to advocate:

The best way to advocate is to simply use your voice. Ask questions, express concerns, and make sure the concerns are heard. The next step is to follow up on those concerns or questions, making sure that the medical team doesn’t drop the ball and is addressing whatever the Black mother has brought up. Additionally, if a Black woman is feeling that her needs are not being met, there is always a supervisor that can be talked to. Sometimes there is a misconception that doctors are the head and complaints cannot be filed, but this is where making sure adequate knowledge is obtained and shared. For any health service there are always steps to filing a complaint, and this information should be easy to access and readily available. All doctors report to 1) a licensing board and/or 2) the department chief where they work. A Black woman knowing her right to complain, and where to start with a complaint can be the difference between life and death for her and her baby.

Keep these things in mind, not just for this Black Maternal Health Week, but for the duration of time when you interact with a Black mother. Encouraging her to advocate and/or advocating for her during appointments can really be a step in the right direction of supporting her during the prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum journey. Until the next time I decide to show up in your inbox, make sure you do something that will help you Bloom Into Your Best Self. . .