Black maternal health is in crisis in this country. In fact, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, and women of color and their babies are disproportionately affected. What's more, the disparity is increasing. The preventable maternal death rate in the Unites States has been increasing since 2001—and Black women are most at risk. Which is why this week is Black Maternal Health Week, a time dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black moms in order to advance the health equity of Black women and their babies. And there's a lot of work we need to do.

By the Numbers

Black women in NYC are 12x more likely to die in childbirth compared to White counterparts and are 4x more likely to die nationwide.

A nationwide study found that Black babies are 2x as likely to not reach their first birthday compared to White babies.

Rates for exclusive breastfeeding at three months are 36% among Black infants and 53% among White infants.

How to Support: The Momnibus Act

Advocate in your own community to support Black Maternal Health and contact your Senator to support bills like the proposed Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (2021 - 2022). This act builds on existing legislation like 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage to comprehensively address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in the United States. Highlights of legislation include, but are not limited to:

• Provide funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity.
• Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and continuity of insurance coverage from pregnancy through labor and delivery and up to 1 year postpartum.
• Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives culturally congruent maternity care and support.
• Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition. 

Your Perelel Subscription Supports Black Maternal Health

Over here at Perelel, our mission is to contribute to a world with more healthy babies, and more healthy moms. We believe everyone has the right to a healthful pregnancy and, in turn, access to high-quality prenatal care. Which is why we have an always-on partnership with Birth Queen, a non-profit dedicated to empowering, supporting and educating Black moms and birthing people.

For every new subscription of Perelel, we are teaming up with Birth Queen to distribute a supply of our prenatal vitamins to a woman who lacks access. So thank you, because of your subscription to Perelel we're able to pay it forward and create change for all moms and babies.

Want to support Birth Queen's mission? Join the movement by donating, using your voice on social, and by learning more with Birth Queen's resources. We also want to hear what you think about the maternal health disparity. Share your thoughts by joining the Perelel community on social.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Perelel.