Black women Archives - Inspire By O'Nika

Challenges of Black Maternal Health, Not Being Valued or Understood

Having a child and starting a family is a monumental and happy occasion. Although, it is a happy time for most women, it can also be stressful for some expecting mothers. Ensuring she receives the best possible care for not only herself but also the baby is very important. Black women have faced challenges in this area.

The United States is still seeing a rise in maternal deaths among Black women. Challenges of Black maternal health are increasing due to the changes in laws. Ending of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, abortion bans in certain states, lack of respect, and in some cases racism in medical settings for expecting mothers of color has all contributed to this issue.

Oftentimes, concerns about pain in pregnant Black women are ignored and reduced to the premise that they are just seeking drug medication. Unfortunately, the stereotype that people of color have a high pain tolerance still exists. Women in the past, have and still do exercise their right to assert their choices, as it relates to the birth of their child by using alternate forms of birthing support. Midwives and doulas are options for those families who no longer have faith in the care they receive in medical facilities.

Midwife

What is a midwife and what do they do?

A midwife is a healthcare specialist who is trained in pregnancies, childbirth, newborn care and postpartum health. A midwife has medical training and can deliver babies. They can also prescribe medications. Although, they do not carry out any kind of surgery.

Having a midwife on your side can help in reducing the risk of preterm births. The need for cesarean sections can be lessened if a midwife is a part of your healthcare team. Other benefits include lowered use of anesthesia and rates of labor induction and augmentation.

Different Types of Midwives

Certified Nurse Midwife-medically trained and licensed. Also, must obtain a Bacher’s degree. The scope of a CNM includes gynecologic exams in addition to the childbirth process.
Certified Professional Midwife-medical training, including internships and education. Usually providing care in settings other than hospitals.
Direct Entry Midwife- Provides care without having education in nursing first.
Lay Midwife- no certification or licensure. Has experience with previous births and self-study.

Doula

What is a doula and what do they do?

A doula provides emotional and educational support. Also, a doula can help position the mother during childbirth to make the delivery more comfortable. A doula is similar to a midwife minus the medical training. However, doula’s do not deliver babies. Midwives do.

A doula can assist in overall maternal satisfaction. By providing emotional support and coaching, it makes the birthing experience less stressful. Doulas may also be called a labor assistant, birth assistant or a labor support specialist. The family can decide just how involved a doula’s role is in the decision-making about the birth.

Benefits of hiring a doula include:

reduce in the need for a cesarean birth
shorter labor times
reduction in anxiety for the mother
knowledge about the process of labor
advocate for the family’s needs

Women of color can feel empowered in the type of care they receive by having a midwife or doula during this precious time of life. Most often, the pregnancy and postpartum outcome is a happier one. For those women who want to have their baby at the hospital, as opposed to a birthing center or at home, both midwives and doula’s can be used.

The battle is uphill with restoring hope and trust in receiving medical care for Black women. Hopefully, in the foreseeable future some initiatives will take place to educate and change the direction in a positive way to improve the disparities. During such a crucial, precious and fragile time in a women’s life. She wants to know and feel assured that she can find the comprehensive care and trust that her concerns will be heard and taken seriously.

Image by Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay

Thank you for reading!

Strength of a Black Woman. The Curse and the Gift.

At a very young age Black girls are taught to be strong. They are also surrounded by examples of this strength. Growing up and watching your sisters, aunties, mother, cousins, etc. holding it down, you get a sense of what it means to be strong. The strength of a Black woman is both a curse and a gift.

At times, this can be crippling when you are struggling with something and need to lean on someone for help. In those moments when we are vulnerable, we were taught not to show it. Just do what you have to do and not let anyone on the outside see that vulnerability.

I want to be clear that when I am talking about the strength of a Black woman it is not to exclude anyone. Simply, that I am speaking from my point of view and experience. I stand in solidarity with all women. My point of view is being told with the utmost respect. However, I cannot speak to the challenges and/or triumphs that other women face. Women of all races experience struggle and face discrimination for different reasons. I am speaking from my reality.

Strength of a Black Woman. The Gift

Whether or not you witness strong Black women, life makes you strong. The circumstances in life force you to get it together. No time for crying, no time for thinking about it. Just time to do it! The gift of being a strong Black woman comes at a price though. The gift of strength is what makes you smile when you have conquered those hard knock life moments.

Being blessed enough to be able to bear children is a gift. One that some women take for granted. The birth of a child requires bodily strength. Of course, there are amazing drugs to take off the edge. Also, it requires a certain mental strength. Now you are responsible for another human. You have to nurture and care for the individual that you have carried for all these months. Breastfeeding, waking up at night, school activities, monetary responsibilities, keeping the child safe.

The strength takes over when you only had 2 hours of sleep and its now time to get up for work. Feeding times when your nipple is sore from feeding. Getting up to warm a bottle of formula and preparing, just when your head hit the pillow. Consoling your child when they had a bad day at school. Providing groceries and wondering how to stretch the dollar when rent is due. Strength is also that thing we have on our side when the father of your child is absent, for whatever reason. In those instances, we are the sole provider and have to hold things together. Single motherhood is a thing and that’s when strength plays a big part.

Inner strength is what gets you out of the bed in the morning. Strength makes you power through when you are not feeling well. It is what makes you show up to a minimum wage job. Inner strength keeps you going when you feel like giving up. Being strong is what allows you to deal with less-than-ideal situations. It is what lets you tackle life head on, with no hesitation. Strength is what makes you say, “no” to things that do not serve you.

Strength of a Black Woman. The Curse

Being strong is good but at times, it can be bad. It is the same strength that tricks your mind into thinking that you have to do it alone. You are not allowed to seek assistance. When you show up as a strong woman, sometimes people think you can do it all. They judge you and do not think that you need help.

Health concerns get ignored, even when they are legitimate concerns. Healthcare has not been kind to Black women. We know our bodies and know when something is wrong. At times when we take those concerns to a professional, we are made to feel like the problem is non-existent or is not a concern at all. The “brush-off” is what I call it.

In situations where we do reach out for assistance, we hesitate for fear of being judged. Other times, people see that strength and use it to their advantage. Meaning, they figure we can deal with or handle a situation, therefore do not step in to help when it is warranted. There is this unspoken expectation for us to do certain things, no matter what.

What does it all mean?

Use the gift of strength in a way that inspires people, and they see themselves when they see you.
Being strong means its ok to show your feminine, softer side. Without apologies.
Strength allows us to love others and show compassion.
Strength does not mean to behave like a man or speak like one.
Strength is what you have inside that no one can see or touch. It just shines through you.
Strong Black women need love, support, protection and understanding too.
Strength is not a show of arrogance but one of conviction.
Know that you do not have to show your feminine physical parts to be noticed or seen.
A strong Black woman knows that it is ok to be vulnerable without feelings of shame/abashment.

So, you see, the strength of a Black woman is a gift and a curse. It comes with a lot of responsibility. Also, it comes with boundless rewards. Cultivate that strength and power and it will be more of a gift than a curse.