Reposted from @blackmomsblog - @bloom.life: "The reasons for the black-white divide in both infant and maternal mortality have been debated by researchers and doctors for more than two decades. But recently there has been growing acceptance of what has largely been, for the medical establishment, a shocking idea: For black women in America, an inescapable atmosphere of societal and systemic racism can create a kind of toxic physiological stress, resulting in conditions — including hypertension and pre-eclampsia — that lead directly to higher rates of infant and maternal death. And that societal racism is further expressed in a pervasive, longstanding racial bias in health care — including the dismissal of legitimate concerns and symptoms — that can help explain poor birth outcomes even in the case of black women with the most advantages." - NYTimes, "Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis". TW: Article references infant loss and maternal death. . Staggering statistics like this are why #BlackMaternalHealthWeek19 is so important, and addressing them takes a multi-disciplined approach across medical, cultural, and social lines as this article illustrates. If you haven't yet, join the movement, find local events, register for national #BMHW19 webinars, and make clear that #BlackMamasMatter, by signing up at http://bit.ly/blackmamasmatter. . Illustration by @chelslarss, because it was important to us to represent actual human beings. Statistics via CDC: bit.ly/cdcPCMSS . . . #BMMA #prenatalhealthrevolution #highriskpregnancy #blackmaternalhealth #womenshealth #maternalhealth #healthypregnancy #pregnancy #cdc #blackwomenmatter #listentoblackwomen" - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwa8o15J0Yh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15pew9wrq55wc