By Katelyn McSweeney, Social Worker, Signature Healthcare
Last month, we at Signature Healthcare celebrated Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) from April 11–17. I didn’t get a chance to write about it in April, but it’s so important that one week per year isn’t really enough.
We celebrate this week to raise awareness of racial inequities in maternal health outcomes in the United States. The week was established by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), a national network of leaders in reproductive justice, maternal health, and birth justice.
Did you know that black women and their babies have historically endured racial disparities in maternal and infant outcomes? According to the CDC, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women. These negative outcomes can be prevented through equitable healthcare access and related services.
At Healthy Beginnings, we aim to empower families by reducing care barriers and increasing access to support for expecting and new mothers. We are working to reduce post-partum mortality rates for minority populations by reducing barriers and increasing access to services. We support patients in accessing basic needs and additional resources through referrals to community agencies. These referrals ensure that expecting mothers and families have access to all of the items they may need when having a baby.
Are you an expecting or new mom looking for support and not sure who to call? Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
Free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. There are English and Spanish-speaking counselors.
Want to learn more? Check out the link here: https://signature-healthcare.org/?/medical-services/birthing-maternity/obstetrics/
Community Voices for Health 