Courtesy photo
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Black Women for Wellness LA is hosting several community-based events during Black Maternal Health Week, a national observance held each year April 11-17.
The annual event, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes affecting Black women in the United States, highlights efforts led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and collectively works toward a future where all Black mothers have the rights, respect and resources to thrive before, during and after pregnancy. Its focus is also on maternal mortality, reproductive autonomy, and access to care.
The state of Black maternal health in the U.S. is a pressing issue, with significant disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with a mortality rate of 55.9 per 100,000 live births, compared to 18.1 per 100,000 for white women.
The upcoming week marks the eighth celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, founded by the nationally recognized Black Mamas Matter Alliance as a national call to support education and advocacy and strengthen Black mothers’ voices nationwide.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a national network of Black women-led birth and reproductive justice organizations and multidisciplinary professionals.
This year’s event theme is Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy.
The Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Black Women for Wellness weeklong campaigns aim to strengthen the voices and experiences of Black mothers, birthing people and families while highlighting the systemic issues contributing to these disparities.
Black Women for Wellness LA events include the introduction of the organization’s Black Joy Guide, a resource designed to empower and uplift Black pregnant women and mothers in Los Angeles County.
The guide offers strategies, support networks and resources to help Black mothers navigate pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum with confidence and care. The launch event will bring together Black pregnant women, Black mothers, maternal health advocates, community leaders, and Kaiser Permanente healthcare professionals to foster dialogue and share actionable solutions for improving Black maternal health outcomes.
The event will include Community Conversations, an engaging discussion on the impact of racial disparities in maternal care and the importance of joy-centered, culturally competent care and support, and Networking & Resources, an opportunity for attendees to connect with service providers and maternal health organizations dedicated to improving Black birth experiences.
Gabrielle Brown, maternal and infant health program manager for Black Women for Wellness, is one of the event organizers.
“The Black Joy Guide is a powerful resource created to uplift Black mamas on their journeys,” Brown said. “The guide was developed in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. We know our mamas’ need for culturally reaffirming resources, which can include doulas and midwives.”
It’s been documented that doulas have a positive impact on a pregnant woman’s life. Studies show that Black mothers, in particular, have better birthing outcomes when they’re supported by one.
It will be unveiled from 1 to 4 p.m. April 11 at the Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Medical offices, 3782 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Black Women for Wellness also will host the second annual Black Mamas Birthing Tour to raise awareness of culturally affirming care options for Black pregnant women and birthing people in Los Angeles County. The tour, a daylong event April 15, will showcase birthing spaces and resources prioritizing Black mothers’ health, dignity, and joy.
For the tour, the organization has rented a party bus to transport about 15 Black pregnant women and their support persons on a tour of birthing institutions across the county.
“The aim is to hit Service Planning Areas 6 and 8, which includes South Central through the Long Beach area,” Brown said. “The first stop is Providence Little Company of Mary in Torrance, Kaiser South Bay, MLK Community Hospital, and the tour will end at Kindred Space LA, a birthing center.”
Brown, who has partnered with each institution and the labor and delivery units, said the moms will engage with health providers and be toured through each facility.
“This is an opportunity to engage, ask questions, and learn about the services,” she said.
Each year in the United States, Black women are dying during pregnancy or after pregnancy. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that issues of racism and bias persist in health care.
Unconscious racial bias in the medical field, as well as a lack of adequate resources in Black communities, are said to be driving forces behind America’s Black maternal health crisis. The risk for Black women is still present no matter their level of wealth, education or fame.
Organizations like the CDC and Black Mamas Matter Alliance are working to address these disparities through initiatives like the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality Program and the Maternal Health Collaborative to Advance Racial Equity.
Key factors contributing to disparities include differences in access to quality healthcare and underlying chronic conditions contribute to these disparities. Social determinants of health include factors like unstable housing, transportation access, food insecurity, substance use, violence, and economic inequality.
“Why we die more than our white counterparts is a combination of things,” Brown said. “We are bold in calling out systemic racism and barriers that affect our health and wellness. It’s in being rooted in the community and hearing the stories of the community.
“Black mamas are not being listened to. Their concerns are falling on deaf ears. There is this notion that Black women can take more pain. Those biases speak to the disparities. These deaths are preventable. Food deserts play a part, so do the maternity ward care closures that are happening.”
Brown said it’s essential to ensure Black mamas are aware and have access to culturally affirming resources.
“We want to connect them with health providers in the community,” she said. “We want them to be healthy and happy and thriving.”
Brown, 30, said culturally affirming resources start with “listening to the mama.”
“When we talk about culturally reaffirming resources, we mean understanding the need,” said Brown, originally from Leimert Park. “Think about a mom going into labor. So many factors must be considered.
“Who and what do we want in the space? Some might want music. Someone might want to use a doula to help ease us through the moment. Others may want to incorporate aromatherapy. What holistic supports can they have during this birthing experience?”
Expanding access to coverage and care can help address disparities. Initiatives like postpartum coverage extension want to improve health outcomes, diversify the healthcare workforce, increase access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care, and improve data collection and reporting. Enhancing data collection and analysis helps identify areas for improvement.
Brown said the goal is for mamas to be comfortable.
“We want to provide a comfortable space,” she said. “We want to let our healthcare providers know that all mamas are not the same.”
Founded in 1997, Black Women for Wellness LA is a nonprofit organization committed to the health and well-being of Black women and girls.
Through education, advocacy and leadership development, the organization seeks to empower communities and create lasting change in reproductive health, rights, and justice.
For more information about upcoming events or to RSVP, email Gabrielle Brown at gabrielle@bwwla.com or visit bwwla.org.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
