Photo courtesy of Magnalaw.net
In 2019, tennis star Serena Williams gave birth to her daughter Olympia by a C-section. However, it was not easy.
Williams started feeling out of breath and recognized that something was wrong shortly after delivering her baby. When she approached a nurse, the nurse assumed her pain medications were causing a state of confusion for Williams. Williams continued to press the nurse on getting a CT scan because her leg began to swell. The scan revealed a number of blood clots that needed to be treated immediately.
The issue didn’t end there. Severe coughing exposed a hemorrhage at the wound of Williams’ C-section surgery and she was required to stay in bed for six weeks.
If Williams had not approached the negligent nurse, her healthcare providers would not have paid any attention to her progressing issues. Williams could have also lost her life.
Two years prior, Shalon Irving, an African-American woman, suffered from high blood pressure and was at risk for blood clots. Irving knew that her pregnancy was very risky. The hospital would typically release the new mother three to four days after giving birth if they are prone to blood clots. In Irving’s case they released her from the hospital after only two days. Her health deteriorated. She experienced rapid weight gain, hematoma, blurred vision, swelling legs, and high blood pressure, all while her doctors continued to say that her symptoms were normal. Irving unfortunately died after her doctors and family decided to remove her from life support.
These two situations highlight the lack of medical care in Black communities. African American adults are less likely to get well paying jobs that cover healthcare.
Communities of color suffer from numerous health challenges. There’s an increased mortality rate of cancer in the black community than in the white communities. Having Black owned health clinics in communities of color can make a positive impact and reduce mortality rates.
It is imperative that there are Black physicians and obstetricians that can represent and put themselves in the shoes of African American mothers. Studies suggest that when Black doctors care for Black mothers and their newborns, the mortality rate for Black newborns is cut in half.
That’s why some mothers are turning to doulas and Black birthing centers instead of hospitals.
Birth Center Equity (BCE) is a person-of-color-owned birthing center. Founded by Leseliey Welch and Nashira Baril, in April of 2020. Their goal is to establish safe birthing clinics in every community across the United States. There are currently 30 BCE clinics around the nation so far.
Doulas give their full attention to the mother. They provide hands-on assessment, uninterrupted support, education, physical support, emotional support, postpartum care. They can also educate or instruct other family members on how to support an expectant mother. A doula is not a replacement for a doctor or midwife because doulas do not have the same level of medical training. You can have a doula in the hospital as well.
However, labor and delivery nurses use machines such as contraction monitors; it enables them to sit stationary in another room viewing a screen to monitor many women in labor simultaneously. This method may be unreliable because the nurse may not be able to recognize other issues with the mother from just monitoring a screen.
Malika Hook Muhammad, a doula trainer and former doula of 15 years, said that she enjoys birth work and being with patients. Many years ago, while she was a social worker, Muhammad felt disconnected from the people she helps.
“The more promotions you accept, the more distant you become from the clients,” said Muhammad.
One day Muhammad witnessed a birth and she felt in her heart that it was a calling from God to become a doula.
“The reason why more black women are turning to doulas is because of fear that something may go wrong,”she said.
People like Muhammad are trying to change the racist system of hospitals one day at a time. Muhammad mentioned that the doctors and nurses may not realize that they are participating in systemic racism. That’s why people have to speak up and pursue systemic equality.
It is important to support birthing clinics, doulas, and doctors so that safe maternity care is available, especially in communities of color. There are various kinds of doulas and birth centers available for every level of income.
Families should also continue to support Black-owned birthing centers and Black doulas so that they are accessible to mothers of color in the future. It is important that Black mothers can feel safe while giving birth to the next generation.
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