When it comes to improving health outcomes for Black mothers, we have work to do.

Pregnancy and childbirth are not easy things for anyone to handle. From the physical toll it takes on a changing body, to the constant doctor visits and discomfort, pregnancy affects all people differently.

But, for Black women, the impacts are much greater.

Research shows that Black women are 3-4 times more likely to experience dangerous complications in childbirth, and 87% of Black women are exposed to at least one traumatic event during the perinatal period (from when you become pregnant up to a year after giving birth). So, what’s going on?

Black women face a higher burden when it comes to social determinants of health, powerful drivers of health outcomes that comprise the conditions in the environment where people are born, live, learn, work, play and pray. They face chronic stress from racism, which is a major risk factor for maternal mental health disorders. Chronic inter-generational stress may contribute to why Black women also experience higher rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

These inequalities extend to the healthcare system, where Black women report higher rates of mistreatment than their White counterparts, and women of color report higher rates of being ignored, refused or receiving no response to requests for help. These culminating factors of systemic and environmental issues are all converging to put Black mothers at risk.

So, what can we do to help support better outcomes for Black women? The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health outlines six policy recommendations, which you can read about in more detail on its website.

1.????? Increase the number of Black and BIPOC mental health and community health professionals.

2.????? Increase the number of Black and BIPOC obstetric professionals.

3.????? Support the embedding of Community Health Workers and Peer Support Specialists in clinical settings.

4.????? Test for proficiency in recognizing and addressing personal bias, cultural competence and maternal mental health.

5.????? Mandate insurers and health plans report provider demographics and conduct network adequacy assessments based on the population served.

6.????? Support research and adoption of interventions from community-based organizations

We all have a role to play in supporting the pregnant people in our lives and our community. Pay attention to urgent maternal warnings signs, including severe headache, extreme swelling of hands or face, trouble breathing, heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge, or overwhelming tiredness. These can be signs of a potentially life-threatening complication.

At the end of the day, it’s up to all of us to make a difference. It not only takes a village to raise a child; it also takes a village to support families.