It's no secret the U.S. has some of the worst maternal mortality rates globally. And for Black families, the disparities are deadly.
But instead of going to a hospital, and worrying if they'll survive giving birth, more and more Black women are turning to a powerful alternative.
“Birthing centers” are a cross between hospitals and home births. They’re staffed by medically-trained midwives and doulas for emotional and physical support.
In states like New Jersey, where Black women are seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than whites, birthing centers are life-saving.
U.S. hospitals tend to overperform ”C-section” births. Many experts believe that, since doctors get a financial bonus when they do a C-section, they do them more often – even though they’re more dangerous.
Some Black women also report feeling more in community with their support team at a birthing center than with traditional hospital doctors.
Recent data shows the maternal mortality rate for Black births went up by about 50% between 2018 and 2020.
This data, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraged many Black families to choose birth outside hospitals.
We can't afford to continue losing our people to medical racism. Our community can benefit from returning to the care of Black midwives and doulas, who have historically cared for our lives in the best way possible!