Black women are at a big disadvantage while pregnant and giving birth. A new study shows that black women and babies die at significantly higher rates than their white counterparts, regardless of income. CBS2's Jessica Moore looks into the problem and explores solutions for pregnant black women. Kimberly Seals-Allers was a graduate student at Columbia University when she gave birth to her first child here in the city.
I delivered at a, you know, highly regarded hospital, but I walked. I walked out feeling disrespected, unseen and traumatized, right? My questions were not always answered.
I had a C-section that I still can't fully explain. After delivery, it was clear that I was breastfeeding. My baby was repeatedly given infant formula against my wishes. It definitely clouded the early days and years of my motherhood journey.
A study published by the New York Times revealed gross inequity in the way Black women are treated during childbirth, regardless of socioeconomic status. In fact, THE STORY OF BLACK MOTHERS SHOWS THAT THEY ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN THE RICHEST BLACK MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE THAN THE RICHEST WHITE MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES. CURRENT NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS BLACK MOTHERS ARE EIGHT TIMES AS LIKELY AS WHITE MOTHERS TO DIE IN CHILD BIRTH REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE GETTING IT RIGHT FOR SOME BUT NOT FOR ALL. SHE TURNED HER PAIN INTO PURPOSE CREATING EARTH AN APP THAT SHOWS BLACK MOTHERS ARE The data is then shared with hospitals with the hope of improving equity.
Transparency and accountability are critical for us to achieve birth equity. Dr. Diana Romero, head of the maternal health department at CUNY, points to the need for cultural humility in the health care system, where doctors and nurses are trained to treat each patient equally, regardless of race. Do Black women need more advocates within the hospital to make sure they're being properly treated?
Everyone probably should be better advocates for themselves when it comes to health care. but to expect people to advocate more so that they get the same is a little, to me, you know, backward. Dr. Romero says long-term policy changes are needed to make health care more accessible and affordable before and during pregnancy, and hospitals need to implement strong training against unconscious bias.
In the short term, she recommends establishing a good relationship with your OBGYN throughout pregnancy and making your wishes clearly known. She also recommends hiring a doula if financially feasible, or even bringing an outspoken family member or friend to the hospital who can speak up on your behalf. Jessica Moore, CBS 2 News.