CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte panel made up of doctors, midwives, doulas, and mental health experts tackled the topic of Black maternal health care Tuesday, as organizations seek solutions for women who are pregnant and need prenatal care.
Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ongoing crisis is facing thousands of expectant mothers across North Carolina.
Tuesday's panel focused on how health care providers can better service Black women during their pregnancies. It was held at Hope Hall at Caldwell Presbyterian Church in Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood at 6 p.m. The video of the panel is available to watch here.
"Maternal health statistics, maternal mortality statistics in the United States are some of the worst in the industrial world, and it's much worse for Black women," Dr. Douglas Robinson with the Reimagining America Project said.
Reimagining America Project is a group working to tackle discrimination and racism within different systems.
Robinson said Black mothers largely feel "unheard and unseen" by the U.S. health care system.
It's an issue he's seen firsthand.
"In health care these days, there's some pressure to see patients frequently and a lot of times we don't take the extra time to actually dig into the background of the patient," Robinson explained.
Tuesday's panel discussion provided education on the problem in health care while presenting possible solutions, including more access to nontraditional prenatal care.
“By having nontraditional prenatal care, like what they call centering pregnancy, where groups of women come together and meet with the health care provider or how doulas work with women throughout the continuum pregnancy," Robinson said.
The push for change is so that for some it's not a matter of life and death.
“Black and brown people to feel empowered to not only take charge of their own healthcare but to be assured that there are good people who hear them and are trying to make those changes," Robinson said.
Reimagining America Project has another event on Black maternal healthcare on Jan. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hope Hall at Caldwell Presbyterian Church.
Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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