SACRAMENTO, California — Maternal mortality rates are on the rise in the United States. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a 40% spike in pregnancy-related deaths with more than 1,200 women dying in 2021 compared to 861 in 2020.
"Many women don't have access to the preventive and emergency care that they need during pregnancy and after pregnancy, and part of that is that many women don't have the extended coverage that they need for postpartum care," said Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General.
The CDC says Black women are three to four times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Some contributing factors include "variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias."
"We see that there are longstanding structural issues and barriers that have prevented Black women and women of color more broadly from getting the kind of care that they need," said Murthy.
Kairis Chiaji, a doula with Black Mothers United, a nonprofit organization in Sacramento looking to improve birth outcomes for Black women and their babies, said it can be difficult to speak up when you're in an intimidating situation where there's a hierarchy rather than a circle.
"One of the things is listening, and being able to hear someone say something and to know them well enough to know what's not being said. thee organization as a whole is empowered to be good listeners but to also act," said Chiaji.
The CDC says doulas can positively impact birth outcomes, especially for Black women. They provide support before, during, and after childbirth.
"I get to be there if somebody is struggling with breastfeeding the middle of the night, I get to be there at a time where maybe there's not a provider who is available to help," said Chiaji. "If maybe there is somebody struggling with depression, I get to be there and know them before that."
Doula care reportedly decreases maternal stress, lowers rates of c sections and increases satisfaction with the birth experience.
"I'm glad that I had no complications," said lanisha Williams.
She gave birth to her son three weeks ago and says she chose Kairis to be her doula for support in and out of the hospital.
"She made sure that I was advocated for," said Williams. "She held my hand and talked me through it, wiped my forehead and whatever I needed, and that's important, somebody that looks like me, it let me know that [I'm] supported."
Kevin Leacy is the father and says the doula care helped him too.
"Offering education, emotional assistance and actually playing the part of a spiritual advisor," said Leacy. "I didn't even know what a Doula was, but all these things coming together, and seeing this with eyes, yeah, it's a big difference now."
Chiaji's role is to make sure everyone is supported.
"This is his kid too and he is just as much in this thing as the mom, even if the system does not think so," said Chiaji.
Williams said she appreciated Chiaji so much so that now she is the godmother to her child.
"She goes above and beyond and I'm so glad that I have her," said Williams.
Black Mothers United offers free access to a pregnancy coach. They guide Black moms and moms-to-be through the steps for a positive birthing experience. People can join the program HERE.
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