Black Maternal Mortality
Black women in the U.S. are roughly ___ times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
What is three times (3x)?
Pregnant women are generally recommended to have at least ___ prenatal visits during a healthy pregnancy.
What is 10–12 visits?
Swelling in the face and hands, headaches, and vision changes can signal this life-threatening condition.
What is preeclampsia?
This birth worker provides emotional, physical, and advocacy support before, during, and after labor.
What is a doula?
Speaking up for your own health needs in a medical setting is called this.
What is self-advocacy?
This federal agency tracks maternal mortality data and reports racial disparities.
What is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)?
This vitamin, taken before and during pregnancy, reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
What is folic acid?
Shortness of breath, chest pain, or sudden dizziness after birth could indicate this emergency.
What is a blood clot / pulmonary embolism?
This type of provider delivers babies and can provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum care.
What is a midwife?
The U.S. law that expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months in many states.
What is the American Rescue Plan Act?
One major systemic factor contributing to the Black maternal mortality crisis is this type of bias found in healthcare settings.
What is implicit bias?
Postpartum checkups should occur within this time frame after birth.
What is 3–6 weeks?
This serious postpartum complication involves heavy, uncontrolled bleeding.
What is postpartum hemorrhage?
Studies show that doula support can reduce this type of delivery.
What is a C-section?
This national campaign elevates awareness of Black maternal health each April.
What is Black Maternal Health Week?
This system-level issue contributes to preventable deaths.
What are delays in care / delayed response?
This condition, beginning after delivery, can cause severe sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness.
What is postpartum depression?
Severe abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may indicate this emergency.
What is placental abruption?
A provider practices this type of care that respects a patient’s background and lived experiences.
What is culturally responsive or competent care?
The gold standard approach for students and future providers to reduce disparities is learning this skill that emphasizes humility, lifelong learning, and respect for diverse backgrounds.
What is cultural humility?
This U.S. state has some of the highest maternal mortality rates, especially among Black and Brown women.
What is Indiana? (Accept also: Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi.)
Lack of access to these two things are major barriers to adequate prenatal care in underserved communities.
What are transportation and insurance?
(Also accept: childcare, paid leave.)
“I don’t feel right” can be life-saving to report. YET Black mothers often face this harmful provider response instead.
What is being ignored or not believed/ or dismissing their symptoms?
This care model supports respectful maternity care by inviting patients to actively participate in every decision about their health.
What is shared decision-making or patient-centered care?
Lack of transportation, insurance, and childcare are examples of these systemic barriers that limit a patient’s ability to receive timely maternal care.
What are social determinants of health?