The Black Woman's Birthing Experience @luckyfacelove - Tumblr Blog

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Instead of going into labor with fear, it’s important to be well informed and supported by not only friends and family but the selected healthcare provider. This would be an essential step to SURVIVAL

#IWILLSURVIVE #saveourmothers #saveourbabies

What is Preeclampsia (Pree-clam-see-ya)

Preeclampsia is one of the leading factors when women face complication before, during or post labor. Preeclampsia is a blood pressure condition that usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to Mayo Clinic. It can sometimes develop without any symptoms but signs of the condition include a rise in blood pressure, vision changes, severe headaches, signs of kidney and liver troubles, and upper abdominal pain., Preeclampsia begins in the placenta and occurs when blood vessels do not develop or function properly. They’re are narrower than the normal blood vessels & react differently to hormonal signals which can limit the blood flow.

Black women develop preeclampsia at a rate that is 60 percent higher than that of white women, and preeclampsia is not as serve in white women as it is in black women.

References

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, no it’s my Doula

Improved birthing practices can be seen in the up rise of black doulas. In the midst of birthing crisis doulas have become visible agents of birthing justice. They have not only contributed to positively influencing the perinatal experience but also improved the health of mother and baby. Serving as a bodyguard, allowing the patient to use them as a tool of crisis mitigation. With the use of solidarity black women doulas expose and remedies obstetric violence. (Nash, C. 2002: 5) In many ways black women doulas not only assist in the success of in the black women’s birthing experience but they help bring the black women’s suffering to the forefront of political discussions.

Cause of Death: STRUCTURAL RACISM

Socially determined factors such as racism and discrimination across the life course adversely affect black women and their pregnancies. (Atlman, Oseguera, McLemore, Kantrowitz-Gordon, Franck, Lyndon 2019:1) On a societal level structural racism can been seen within the practices of the healthcare providers. Often perceived to have no structural influences, the interaction between patient and healthcare provider can be viewed as the structural component of the healthcare system. The inability to relate and support the patient is a direct result of the system that is put into place. Support before, during, and post labor is a key component to a successful birthing experience. Quite too often the black woman voice is either silenced or blatantly ignored. Socially-driven issues such as disrespect, abuse, and discrimination within the health care system play a significant role in how black women access and experience care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum which contributes to adverse outcomes for mother and child. (Altman et al. 2019:2) The way information is often delivered to the patient from healthcare provider is even influenced by inherent biases and overt judgment. Even though this serves as key component of the birthing experience, there still lingers a desire to formulate a relationship with healthcare providers. (Altman et al. 2019:7)

In attempts to further understand the black birthing experience researchers have decided to go straight to the source, the black woman. Recommendations for improvement in patient-provider interactions included spending time and building connection with patients, providing individualized women centered care and being open to a true partnership in decision making. (Altman, McLemore, Oseguera, Lydon, Franck 2020:471.) Improvement can also be implemented at a structural level. Overt judgement and discrimination is also found within the structure training for health care providers. Removing biased language from textbooks and providing the availability to have more black health care providers, will assist with increasing the trust and respect for black women. (Atlman et al 2020:471)

The Effects of Stress and Racial Microaggressions

Even though the increasing excess of maternal and infant mortality affects black women worldwide, I surprisingly discovered that there was a disparity between foreign black women and their American counter parts. But how? Or should I say what? What was the difference between the American black woman’s birthing experience and the foreign black woman’s birthing experience? Rosenberg (2002) and colleagues showed that one of the two determining factors was stress and social support available to pregnant and postpartum women. It is suggested that black women experience a longer lifetime exposure to chronic stress, which may lead to fluctuations in allostatic load (wear and tear) and contribute to higher risk of preterm births. (McLemore et al. 2018:128) Even though it was not determined if there was a direct link to poor birthing outcomes and overall perceived stress, some hypothesize that there is a link between the stress caused by racial microaggressions; making racial microaggression an independent as well as potentiating risk for poor birthing out comes for black women. (McLemore et al. 2018)

Rosenburg (2002) and colleagues saw that the mother’s life experience perception played a key factor in stress levels. In comparing American black births to foreign black births, foreign mother’s often see their life in America as a once in a lifetime opportunity. They do not succumb to the weight of race in America as the American black mothers. Racial microaggression was also a common thread once socioeconomic status and obstetric history was controlled. Black mothers, no matter the socioeconomic status or level of healthcare availability have been impacted by racial microaggression and or sometimes racial discrimination.

Cherish Giordano is a Las Vegas native, serving her community as a doula. Married and mother of 3, Cherish has a true passion for mental parenting practices and enjoys sharing studies and personal tips.

“A woman in birth is at once her most powerful, and most vulnerable. But any woman who has birthed unhindered understands that we are stronger than we know.” – Marcie Macar

#doulasrock

Baby’s Bounty is a Non-Profit Organization that assist Mother’s in need

“Tomorrow, the @BMHCaucus is making an important announcement! To keep up to date with the Caucus, sign up for updates on our website homepage. https://t.co/IeXUTYkewN”

When the rhythmic breath meets the intensity of unforeseen birthing complications

#IJUSTWANTTOLIVE SURVIVE aBLKMother'sCRY

Hello my name is Sha-Asia Washington

This is Sha-Asia Washington and to the right is her beautiful daughter Khloe Sha-Asia Washington. Its sad to say that the closest this baby girl will ever get to her mother is the sharing of her mothers name. At the young age of 26 years old pregnant with her first child, Sha-Asia went to hospital for high blood pressure only for them to keep her for 2 days without any medicine. She later died while having a c-section. Never got the chance to meet her beautiful daughter Khloe.

#saveourmothers

“Can’t wait to write a tell all about my experience during my last two trimesters dealing with incompetent doctors at Montefiore”

Unfortunately Amber was never able to tell her own story.

Hello my name is Amber Issac

Due to the negligence and incompetence of doctors the falling of Amber’s platelet levels went overlooked. Causing her to bleed out immediately after delivering my baby boy. During her pregnancy Amber was very verbal about her concerns to physicians, but those screams for help fell on deaths ear.

#IAMinPAIN #CANANYBODYHEARME saveourmothers

Under 40% of premature births are African-American, but African-American premature babies contribute to 70% of babies who die within first year of life.

#saveourbabies

Hello my name is Dr. Chaniece Wallace

Dr. Chaniece Wallace and husband Anthony Wallace welcomed there daughter into the world Oct 20 via emergency C-section. Unfortunately Dr. Chaniece was pronounced dead 2 days later to Preeclampsia complications.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/death-black-mother-after-birth-first-child-highlights-racial-disparities-n1246841

#saveourmothers

How can one celebrate life while morn another?

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