The Dangers of Giving Birth in America

When Linda Villarosa first published a piece via the New York Times on the dangers facing black mothers in April of 2018, the general societal reaction was one of shock. I remember listening to the accompanying podcast in the car, appalled at the stories that Villarosa recounted over the course of her interview with Michael Barbaro. Mothers of color in the United States are subject to some of the highest mortality rates, untreated pregnancy-related conditions and diseases, and an increased likelihood of losing their child either during or after gestation. Villarosa states, "Black infants in America are now more than twice as likely to die [than] white infants--11.3 per 1,000 black babies, compared with 4.9 per 1,000 white babies, according to the most recent government data--a racial disparity that is actually wider than in 1850."

The deaths of mothers themselves have also increased over 200% from 1993 to 2014. "Black women are three to four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as their white counterparts, according to the C.D.C.", Villarosa presents, illustrating just how extreme the discrepancy between quality of maternal care can be in the United States.

Upon further investigation, though, is it all that difficult to believe that in a nation where people of color have faced oppression in multitudinous and insidious ways, where young black boys are killed regularly by police forces, that the U.S. is not cultivating an environment in which black mothers and babies can thrive?

These societally influenced stressors would logically impact the lives of women affected by such factors. Researchers and scientists such as Janet D. DiPietro have conducted studies that suggest consistent levels of the stress hormone cortisol present in a pregnant individual are easily transmitted and perceptible in amniotic fluid. The same studies describe the idea that higher levels of cortisol in utero may produce higher levels of stress in a child, and subsequently an increased likelihood of chronic stress in an adult. Study upon study links higher levels of stress to a slew of diseases both mental and physical.

Also noteworthy is how particular this issue is to black women in the United States, how research has proved repeatedly that these numbers are not a result of poor personal prenatal health or any predisposition. In fact, women who were born in good health to families outside of the U.S. (with varying socioeconomic class), after moving to the States, came to mirror the exact same health risks and outcomes as mothers who had lived in America for multiple generations.

Although media dialogue about this issue seems to have settled down since Villarosa's article, the experiences and statistics are very much real. Unsurprisingly, racism is actively impacting the safety, quality of care, and life expectancy of black parents and children.

As for what is being done to combat such an unsettling trend, many grassroots organizations are springing up in order to assist black mothers and parents obtain quality medical providers, and cultivated black women's leadership programs that can advocate and provide services for expecting parents. There has also been a remarkable upswing in the popularity of Doulas, who assist pregnant individuals over the course of their pregnancy, as well as support their clients emotionally though the birthing process.

For more information on Villarosa's article and alternative medical care:
Why America's Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis
The Roll of Prenatal Maternal Stress in Child Development (Requires academic login or J Store account.)
Finding a Doula
For Serena Williams, Childbirth Was a Harrowing Ordeal. She's Not Alone.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Mamamoto Village
National Birth Equity Collaborative
Commonsense Childbirth 
Black Women Birthing Justice