Here is the information I shared during the webinar today honoring Black Maternal Health Week #BHMW18
Thanks to all who joined! Join by familiarizing yourself with the following resources if you missed our conversation. Cultural congruence can be built by emerging in all of this and more....
In African Centered Culture Black mothers are the center of the community, postpartum support is not separate from prenatal care. Many traditions that care providers aren’t familiar with are part of a system of care that African people brought and have tried to keep with them in this country. RESOURCE: The Purpose of African American Postpartum Care Visit:
www.shafiamonroe.comrewire.news/article/2018/04/11/maternal-health-replace-race-with-racism/www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/magazine/black-mothers-babies-death-maternal-mortality.htmlrewire.news/article/2018/03/28/miscarriage-needed-help-doula-provide/www.propublica.org/article/nothing-protects-black-women-from-dying-in-pregnancy-and-childbirthwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29494846www.facebook.com/BlackMamasMatter/Must Watch: Historical Trauma & Healthcare:
According to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, holistic care: • Addresses gaps in care and ensures continuity of care
• Is affordable and accessible
• Is confidential, safe, and trauma-informed
• Ensures informed consent
• Is Black Mama-, family-, and parent-centered and patient-led
• Is culturally-informed and includes traditional practices
• Is provided by culturally competent and culturally congruent providers
• Respects spirituality and spiritual health
• Honors and fosters resilience
• Includes the voices of all Black Mamas
• Is responsive to the needs of all genders and family relationships
• Provides wraparound services and connections to social services
In Setting the Standard of and for Black Women’s Care, blackmamasmatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BMMA_BlackPaper_April-2018.pdf
recommendations for all care providers and medical staff include:1. Listen to Black women
2. Recognize the historical experiences and expertise of Black
women and families
3. Provide care through a reproductive justice framework
4. Disentangle care practices from the racist beliefs in modern medicine
5. Replace white supremacy and patriarchy with a new care model
6. Empower all patients with health literacy and autonomy
7. Empower and invest in paraprofessionals
8. Recognize that access does not equal quality care
Other Considerations Regarding Reproductive Justice and Black Life & Health:Statistically Blacks experience the loss of a mother father or sibling much more often than Whites. These losses can affect wide ranging life outcomes including socioeconomic status, quality of relationships and mental and physical stress. Consider the health risks posed by grief and loss.
Language & Concept Considerations Raised on Today's Webinar: 1. Informed refusal: mindfulness as opposed to ignorance
2. Pregnant Persons, Expectant Persons
Remember, Black women are more likely to feel stressed during pregnancy. "Race isn't the risk factor, racism is." Dr. Joia Crear-Perry.
