Black maternal health matters: What Black gynecologists want you to know before giving birth

The health crisis for Black moms in America deserves our immediate attention. Black women within the US are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. And while this shameful statistic has been true for a very long time, we still see evidence that little has modified lately.

Just just a few weeks ago, former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal Anderson died of sepsis-related organ failure shortly after giving birth to her stillborn daughter, Charlotte Willow. Anderson was only 40 years old. In 2018, tennis champion Serena Williams famously shared that she developed blood clots after giving birth to her first child via Caesarean section and that doctors ignored her symptoms until she insisted on a CT scan. These harrowing women’s stories are a startling reminder that Black women proceed to be at the middle of a world maternal health crisis that has not improved.

Every 12 months within the United States, black women die during or after pregnancy. Worse still, within the US it accounts for over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths will be prevented, According to the CDC. Unconscious racial bias in medicine, in addition to a scarcity of adequate resources in Black communities, are believed to be the driving forces behind the Black maternal health crisis in America. As the stories of Anderson and Williams have shown us, the risks for black women are still present no matter our level of wealth, education or fame.

It’s no surprise that statistics show that black patients, including black moms, feel this fashion higher outcomes when treated by black physicians. Unfortunately, only about 5% of physicians within the U.S. are black. For Black women who’re currently pregnant or fascinated by getting pregnant within the near future but don’t have access to Black doctors of their area, doctors want you to know many things in order that you can equip yourself with the appropriate information and fight for myself. We talked to two of them – OB-GYN Constants Adams of Chicago and Dr. Kimberly Middleton, a board-certified family medicine physician and vein surgeon from Garland, Texas, who previously specialized in high-risk pregnancies – and asked what Black moms should know and do before giving birth.

Plan before you get pregnant

If you know you want to get pregnant in the longer term, start talking to your doctor now. The sooner you discover existing risk aspects, the earlier you can mitigate them. “What I encourage quite a lot of people to do is come together [their OB-GYN] before they get pregnant,” Adams says. “I will have people come and meet me and talk about their future pregnancy plans. We review their history and find out if there is anything that increases their risk of getting pregnant so that we can hopefully address that risk before they get pregnant. This is the best way for us to optimize their overall health.” The pre-pregnancy period is also the perfect time to check hospitals in your area and their rates for cesarean sections, read doctors’ opinions, and develop a contingency plan in case your doctor is unable to attend your delivery. “Before you get pregnant is a terrific time to do it,” says Adams. “When you’re pregnant, it may be really difficult to see a health care provider because it may lead to disruptions in your health care.”

Find your birth team

Speaking of doctor shopping, part of getting a secure and peaceful birth is finding a medical team you can trust and have a superb relationship with. While you may have already got a gynecologist who you often see for annual exams, pap smears, and other reproductive health visits, do not forget that not all of them deliver babies. Find out in case your doctor can do each, and if not, ask her or him to refer you to an obstetrician who can accommodate your birth plan.

When in search of an OB-GYN, Adams recommends listening to your intuition and paying close attention to how they respond to your concerns. “To read [their] body language. Is it someone who’s more dismissive of my questions? Do they make me feel inferior or silly for asking these questions? Do I get along well with them? Are they communicating with me in a way that I actually understand and find effective?” – he asks, asking himself. Middleton agrees that doing research about your doctor and his success rates will give you added peace of mind.

“You need to check with your doctor, just like anyone else,” he says. “We check reviews of restaurants, we check reviews of hotels, so you have to check the reviews of your doctor. If you dig deep, you can check your doctor’s lawsuits or complaints. Much information is public. By doing research, you make yourself known. If you find a health care provider you are considering, talk to others and get their suggestion.

Stay as lively as possible

Exercise is important for overall health, however it is very necessary while pregnant. Middleton says staying lively by walking or doing moderate exercise will help you maintain healthy blood flow. “It’s really important not to be sedentary and try to move as much as possible,” he says, “because the more blood stagnates in the veins, the more likely the veins are to collapse, which increases the risk of a devastating blood clot.” She also recommends keeping track of any changes in your body and never ignoring “normal” pregnancy symptoms, which can signal an issue comparable to swelling, redness across the ankles or frequent and chronic headaches.

Know your history

Middleton advises that knowing family history, including any birth complications the birth mother has faced, is crucial for pregnant Black women since it helps get a transparent picture of risk aspects and what the care team ought to be looking for. “I find that when people come into my office, they don’t know their family history, they don’t know anything about what has happened in the past with their family members, and that’s a key factor in determining the outcome when you’re pregnant,” Middleton says .

“Genetics play a huge role during pregnancy and birth, and often what happened to your mother often happens to you, too,” she adds. “That’s why it’s important to know your family history and your own medical history.” Keeping an up-to-date family medical history in your phone or notebook, together with an inventory of specific questions you want to ask your doctor about your birth plan, is the easiest way to be prepared for every doctor’s visit. And because the saying goes, be ready so you do not have to prepare.

Consider working with a doula

The positive impact a doula can have on a pregnant woman’s life has been well documented. Research shows that black moms particularly have higher birth outcomes after they are supported by one person. Doula care is now recognized as a invaluable resource for pregnant and birthing women, including several states within the U.S. doula care under Medicaid programs.

While you might imagine that doulas are only there to help you give birth, they can even step in to help you in your pregnancy journey and can be found to provide postpartum care. Middleton believes they’re the right addition to the motherhood tribe.

“I think an important part of providing good health care is recruiting your own support team,” he says. “This could be your partner, mother, grandmother, doula or midwife. I think it’s very important because you have a second set of ears and voices. Sometimes you are in a situation where you cannot express your opinion, [a doula] you recruited can express these concerns on your behalf.” Adams agrees and recommends that when vetting your care team, ask your practice what they give thought to doula care. “There is a lot of really great evidence that shows that having a doula in BIPOC populations can be a huge resource and a great way to reduce risk because you have someone who is your personal advisor.”