*The image attached above is a slideshow.*

Source:

A Book of Medical Discourses (1883) Written by Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler

The first Black woman to receive a medical degree in the United States

Caption:

We all stand on someone’s shoulders. Who do we have to thank for brilliant doctors like 34-year-old Kizzmekia Corbett, the leading immunologist who helped design the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine? Why, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler!

Born in the time of slavery, but in a free state, a young Rebecca was first inspired by watching her aunt care for sick neighbors. She worked as a nurse for 8 years under doctors who mentored and recommended her, and at age 33, received a scholarship that made her degree in homeopathy and medicine possible. When the Civil War ended, Dr. Crumpler worked with the Freedmen’s Bureau in Virginia, caring for freed slaves whom white doctors refused to treat.

She returned to Boston to establish a family practice for poor women and children, and at age 52, published A Book of Medical Discourses, believed to be the first medical text written by a Black author. Dr. Crumpler describes a variety of newborn and postpartum conditions and discourages diluting breastmilk or giving infants tea or molasses, to avoid cholera and other illnesses.

Dr. Melody McCloud, OB/GYN at Emory University and Medical Director at Atlanta Women’s Health Care, has written extensively about her life, because previously the story was little known. “Crumpler’s journey to medical school was a phenomenal accomplishment, as she encountered both sexism and racism” says McCloud. “Some of the hospitals wouldn’t grant her admitting privileges… pharmacists refused to fill her prescriptions, some people joked that the ‘M.D.’ behind her name stood for ‘mule driver.’ Dr. Crumpler only finally received a proper gravestone in July 2020, due to fundraising and media.

Black women still represent only 2% of active physicians, and Dr. Corbett has a similar story of success through early inspiration, mentorship and scholarships. Tag here all the current or future Black women doctors you want to uplift today!

Written by Ihotu Ali, MPH (@ihotuali), EBB Research Team

#blackdoctors #blackwomendoctors

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Master Midwife, Activist, and Educator Nonkululeko Tyehemba was said to consider herself part of a long tradition of Black Midwifery, known to many as Grand Midwives (as opposed to a more diminutive term, “Granny Midwives”).

Mary Cole, featured in 1953 Georgia Public Health film All My Babies, and Margaret Charles Smith, author of Listen to Me Good, were just two of a generation of grand midwives supporting poor and families of color in the rural South. Shafia Monroe, Midwife, Educator, and EBB Podcast Guest, reflects that “one of the darkest moments in U.S. history was the systematic eradication of the African American midwife from her community, resulting in a legacy of birth injustices.”

Discussed openly in JAMA as “The Midwife Problem,” respected physicians claimed that “great danger lies in the possibility of attempting to educate the midwife. If she once becomes a fixed element in our social and economic system… we may never be able to get rid of her” (Charles Ziegler, MD, 1913).

Few remain in this midwifery tradition, brought to the U.S. from Africa, where midwives were also spiritual healers, mentors, and advocates, their knowledge passed from elder to apprentice, even through generations of slavery.

Elder Tyehemba not only attended births, she also founded the Harlem Birth Action Committee, educated parents and trained doulas, and was among the early local promoters of the “postpartum visit.” She advocated for a USPS stamp to honor the Black Grand Midwife, and worked alongside midwives in Somalia.

Chanel Porchia of Ancient Song Doula Services honors her memory, sharing that “she was the first person to invite Ancient Song to speak at a conference, who advocated for us to be in rooms where decisions were being made… We always honored her presence as you would when royalty enters a room. It is important that we honor our teachers while they are here.”

Image by @chanel_porchia

Written by Ihotu Ali (@ihotuali), EBB Research Team

@birthaction #BlackMidwives #BlackBirth

Posted on March 12, 2021

Source:

Bor, J., Venkataramani, A., Williams, D., et al. (2018). Police killings and their spillover effects on the mental health of Black Americans: A population-based, quasi-experimental study. The Lancet. 2018 Jul 28.

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Content Warning: Police Violence

Did you know that <2% of therapists under the American Psychological Association identify as Black?

A 2018 Lancet study found the mental health burden from police killings alone nearly as large as the mental health burden associated with diabetes. The National Alliance on Mental Health states that 2 out of 3 Black Americans do not receive the care they need, and are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care or be included in research. In tragic irony, Black people may also feel conflicted about calling 911 in a mental health emergency, due to the risk of violence. Data from the Treatment Advocacy Center estimate that 25% of police killings involve individuals with mental illness.

Researchers suggest increasing Black representation across the mental health field, from psychiatrists to social workers (Greenwood et al., 2019). Scholarships, student loan forgiveness, and tax credits can help diversify this critical profession.

Even in the relative absence of culturally congruent mental health care, however, Black communities continue a legacy of self-healing and creative, holistic support systems. Black doulas, massage therapists, acupuncturists, energy workers, herbalists and spiritual leaders offer culturally congruent care from integrative medicine and indigenous perspectives. Popular self-care practices also abound including altar work, meditation, astrology – and even campaigns to elevate naps as a form of resistance, reparations, and healing justice.

We hope in the future for more evidence on these healing practices, and for the continued growth of a holistic Black mental health network that is culturally congruent, effective and accessible to all who need it.

To connect with a Black therapist or wellness practitioner, follow:

@blackmentalwellness @beam @blhensonfoundation @rootsofresistance @divinebirthwisdom @liberatemeditation @prentishemphill @elysianspirittarotllc @napministry @everyonesplace

Written by Ihotu Ali @ihotuali, EBB Research Associate

Posted on March 19, 2021

Source:

Wilkerson, I. (2020). Caste: The origins of our discontents.

Caption:

With heavily researched narrative and poetic storytelling, Isabel Wilkerson links the caste systems of the U.S., India, and Nazi Germany, and explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems, including divine will, bloodlines, dehumanization, and more.

Publishers Marketplace declared Caste the #1 book of 2020 across all genres. It was called “an instant American classic” by The New York Times, and Oprah proclaimed it “the most essential…the most necessary-for-all-humanity book that I have chosen.”

What makes Caste essential reading? This brilliant nonfiction book enlightens us to an invisible program—the hidden U.S. caste system—governing us all, and only by awakening to our captivity can we “threaten the hum of the matrix.”

A caste system, Wilkerson writes, is “an artificial construction, a fixed and embedded ranking of human value that sets the presumed supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups on the basis of ancestry and often immutable traits, traits that would be neutral in the abstract but are ascribed life-and-death meaning.”

Wilkerson describes caste as “fixed and rigid” while race is “fluid and superficial, subject to redefinition to meet the needs of the dominant caste.” For example, not all European immigrants to what is now the U.S. were considered white at first, but over time it served the dominant caste to expand the definition of white. In the future, the hierarchy will likely “shape-shift” again.

The caste system is a “subconscious code of instructions” for maintaining an unjust social order that resides in you, in me, in providers, educators, researchers, and law enforcement.

Rates of neglect and abuse during pregnancy and childbirth are consistently higher for Black birthing people. In some cases, mistreatment is due to overt racism; other times, invisible programming is at work. If you find yourself in the dominant caste (through no merit or fault of your own), beware the dangers of implicit bias. Awaken and reprogram.

“We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and openhearted enlightenment, our own wisdom.”

Written by Anna Bertone, EBB Research Editor

Source:

Ukoha, E. P., Davis, K., Yinger, M., et al. (2021). Ensuring Equitable Implementation of Telemedicine in Perinatal Care. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Feb 4. Click here.

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Telemedicine is defined as “two-way, real-time communication between a patient and practitioner.” The use of telemedicine has increased enormously because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will likely continue to play a significant role in maternity care moving forward. Therefore, it is key that care providers, health care systems, researchers, payers, and policy makers consider how to promote equitable implementation of telemedicine so that existing racial and ethnic disparities are improved, not made worse.

A recent article published by Erinma P. Ukoha, MD, MPH and colleagues in Obstetrics & Gynecology discusses recommendations to promote equitable implementation of telemedicine.

They recommend, for example, that health care providers should “acknowledge and mitigate implicit biases to ensure telemedicine is offered to every patient who is medically eligible.” Studies have found that Black, Latinx, and low-income patients are less likely to be offered patient portal access because of provider assumptions about their access to technology, digital literacy, and interest. However, a survey of predominantly uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients scheduled for pregnancy-related visits during COVID-19 found that the majority of respondents were interested in having a video visit and able to complete one.

So, instead of making assumptions about pregnant clients—assumptions influenced by implicit biases—find out how each individual feels about the option of using telemedicine. For some, telemedicine could help improve their access to care if they face barriers to in-person visits because of long commutes or lack of transportation, childcare, or time off work. Others may prefer in-person visits because of concerns about loss of privacy or feeling less engaged with video visits. The authors also recommend that providers “systematically identify and document practitioner difficulties in conducting visits with patients who have lower digital access and literacy, limited English proficiency, and other unique barriers to help identify additional tools and support required.”

Read the full article here to learn more and view all of the recommendations!

Source:

Jessel, S., Sawyer, S., and Hernández, D. (2019). Energy, Poverty, and Health in Climate Change: A Comprehensive Review of an Emerging Literature. Frontiers in public health, 7, 357. Click here.

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Communities in Texas were hit with unprecedented power outages in the wake of deadly Winter Storm Uri (Feb. 12-16, 2021). The resulting heat and water crisis was amplified for Black and Latinx families, even as these populations continue to bear the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Chauncia Willis, chief executive of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, an Atlanta-based non-profit focused on emergency management and racial justice, explains, “What you will see, as with COVID-19 and with any disaster, is disproportionate death and negative impacts for those who are most vulnerable among us. These inequities are easily identifiable before disaster and, of course, they’re rooted in systemic bias, racism and the country’s anti-poverty mindset.”

Jessel et al. (2019) conducted a comprehensive review that discussed overlapping issues intersecting with energy insecurity. For example, residential segregation (from deliberate policies designed to promote white supremacy) concentrates Black families in poorer quality housing at increased risk of outages and delays in recovering from energy disruptions (i.e. New York City Housing Authority).

In Texas, utility companies prioritized keeping power on in downtown areas with hospitals and other critical centers, which benefited wealthier neighborhoods nearby, while lower-income, historically Black and Latinx neighborhoods, went without power.

Injustice precedes and follows natural disasters. Researchers have documented increases in racial wealth inequality after natural disasters because of inequitable distribution of emergency aid. Black and brown communities get fewer resources and white communities get more. The authors say, “The good news is that if we develop more equitable approaches to disaster recovery, we can not only better tackle that problem but also help build a more just and resilient society.”

Texas is getting emergency aid after this storm. It is anti-racist work to see that these resources are distributed equitably!

Click here for a running list of resources and ways to help Texans struggling to recover from the storm, provided by Anti-Racism Daily.

Source:

Amutah, C., Greenidge, K., Mante, A., et al. (2021). Misrepresenting Race — The Role of Medical Schools in Propagating Physician Bias. Published at NEJM.org. Click here.

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Researchers examined nearly 900 lectures in one institution’s preclinical medical curriculum. They found five key domains in which educators misrepresented race in their lectures:

1.    Semantics. Educators used imprecise and inappropriate labels when discussing race and health disparities. For example, racial labels such as “Caucasian,” “Black,” “African American,” and “Asian” were used to refer to innate biologic differences between patients (e.g., genetic predisposition to a particular disease). But it’s critical to understand and internalize that the categories we use to discuss race are social, not scientific. Social racial categories are not accurate representations of genetic ancestry. See the IOM report Standardization of Race, Ethnicity, and Language.

2.   Discussion of disease prevalence by race/ethnicity without context. Teaching students that “Black” patients have higher rates of different diseases compared to “White” patients without providing context for the health disparity can lead students to falsely attribute the disparity to biologic differences.

3.   Instruction to diagnose diseases based on race/ethnicity. Students should not be taught to diagnose disease based on race. Race is a social category that is linked to social factors known to affect disease risk (e.g., residential segregation and asthma prevalence). Sometimes race is also used as a poor proxy for ancestry.

4.   Linking non-Whites to increased disease burden in general (pathologizing race). Educators routinely referenced worse health outcomes for non-White patients without discussing racism’s harmful effects on health. Not only were these lectures missed opportunities to discuss the role of racism, but also they may have introduced false beliefs about race-based hierarchies.

5.   Instruction to follow race-based clinical guidelines. Guidelines that endorse diagnosing and treating disease differently based on race are often flawed and misguided. 

Does this mean educators should avoid discussions about race and researchers should ignore racial health disparities? No!

It means the words we use and the context we provide around race and racism matters and deserves more attention.

Source:

Montoya-Williams, D., Williamson, V. G., Cardel, M., et al. (2020). The Hispanic/Latinx Perinatal Paradox in the United States: A Scoping Review and Recommendations to Guide Future Research. J Immigr Minor Health. 2020 Oct 31. Click here.

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Over the last several decades, researchers have noted that Hispanic/Latinx individuals who live in the United States (U.S.) tend to have birth outcomes more similar to White parents than to Black parents, despite their significant socioeconomic barriers. This unexpected health advantage is often referred to as the “Hispanic paradox.”

However, in recent years, there is growing evidence that the Hispanic/Latinx paradox is not uniform across all subgroups. Researchers are now raising concerns that lumping everyone together obscures important health disparities.

Dr. Montoya-Williams and colleagues performed a scoping review of the research on Hispanic/Latinx birth outcomes in the U.S., focusing on rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant death. Their review described wide variation in birth outcomes experienced by Hispanic/Latinx parents in the U.S. and identified three major themes.

First, foreign-born Hispanic/Latinx parents had more favorable birth outcomes than U.S.-born Hispanic/Latinx parents. This finding mirrors research on better birth outcomes among immigrant Black parents compared to their U.S.-born counterparts, indicating harmful effects of racism on people who live their entire lives in the U.S.

Second, birthing parents’ country or region of origin was linked to their birth outcomes in the U.S. Specifically, Mexican-born and South American-born immigrants were at lower risk for poor birth outcomes compared to immigrants from the Caribbean.

Lastly, variation in birth outcomes may be related to different sociocultural experiences for Hispanic/Latinx parents in the U.S. Research has documented that being socioeconomically disadvantaged and experiencing racism and discrimination is linked to worse birth outcomes among Black parents. In the Hispanic/Latinx community, these toxic exposures are likely impacting some subgroups more severely than others. This is an important area for future research.

Source:

Tema Okun (building on the work of many people)

https://www.dismantlingracism.org/white-supremacy-culture.html

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“White supremacy culture is the idea (ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to People of Color and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions.”

This ideology can show up in any group or organization because we are all influenced by the larger society in which we live. It can be difficult to identify white supremacy culture in our organizations because, although it is widely encountered, it is omnipresent almost to the point of invisibility. Tema Okun (author, activist, facilitator) put together a list of white supremacy characteristics and their antidotes. The list of characteristics includes:

• Perfectionism⁠
• A sense of urgency⁠
• Defensiveness⁠
• Valuing quantity over quality⁠
• Worship of the written word⁠
• Belief in only one right way⁠
• Paternalism⁠
• Either/or thinking⁠
• Power hoarding⁠
• Fear of open conflict⁠
• Individualism⁠
• Belief that I’m the only one (who can do this ‘right’)⁠
• The belief that progress is bigger and more⁠
• A belief in objectivity⁠
• Claiming a right to comfort⁠

Instead of falling into the destructive patterns above, organizations are urged to develop a culture of appreciation, where it is expected that everyone will make mistakes and those mistakes offer opportunities for learning.

Teamwork holds more value than individualism and the desire for individual recognition and credit. It is worth taking the time to encourage democratic decision-making that is thoughtful and inclusive.

Measurable goals are not all that matters; there is value in quality and process, and more than one way to reach the same goal. Relatedly, progress toward success does not always mean more growth.

More energy should be spent on taking steps to eliminate racism than defending against charges of racism. To counteract white supremacy culture, it has to be acceptable for people to raise hard issues, even when they make others uncomfortable. In fact, welcome these opportunities! “Discomfort is at the root of all growth and learning.”

For more details about these characteristics and their antidotes, click here.

*The image attached above is a slideshow.*

Source:

Vedam, S., Stoll, K., MacDorman, M., et al. (2018). Mapping integration of midwives across the United States: Impact on access, equity, and outcomes. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 21;13(2):e0192523. Click here. Free full text!

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A very important study called the “Access and Integration Maternity Care Mapping (AIMM) Study” was published in 2018 by a multidisciplinary team of experts (*trigger warning: infant mortality*). The point of the study was to find out if integrating midwives into the maternity care system changes health outcomes. They were looking at integration of all types of certified midwives (CNMs, CMs, CPMs). All of these midwives follow the Midwives Model of Care™- a holistic, client-centered model of care that has demonstrated excellent outcomes in every birth setting.

The research team developed the Midwifery Integration Scoring System (MISS), which scored each state on criteria such as whether the laws and regulations support or limit midwifery, the ability for midwives to prescribe medicine, access to insurance coverage, and the ability to make smooth transfers to advanced medical care when needed.

For the first time, this research established that states with higher midwifery integration scores (MISS scores) were associated with improved outcomes for birthing parents and babies, even when taking into account the impact of race. Increased access to midwifery care was linked to increased breastfeeding/chestfeeding, reduced medical interventions, increased VBAC, and lower newborn death—including race-specific newborn death.

The research team found that in states where more Black babies were born, integration of midwives was lower compared to states where fewer Black babies were born. Access to midwives and density of midwives were also significantly lower in states where more Black babies were born. The states with the most Black births reported the highest rates of newborn death. However, they found that New York State has a high density of Black births but one of the lowest rates of newborn death in the U.S., and it has a MISS score in the top 25%. North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi have a high percentage of Black births, high rates of newborn death, and very low MISS scores. This evidence strongly suggests that integration of midwives could help reduce racial health disparities.

You can learn about your state’s score at BirthPlaceLab.org and explore the maps at https://www.birthplacelab.org/maps/.

Source:

Carter, S. E., Ong, M. L., Simons, R. L., et al. (2019). The effect of early discrimination on accelerated aging among African Americans. Health Psychology, 38(11), 1010–1013.

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The Family and Community Health Study (FACHS) is the largest study of Black families in the U.S., involving over 800 participating families. The study was established in 1996 at Iowa State University and the University of Georgia and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is a longitudinal investigation of the effect of various factors, including racial discrimination, on Black parents and their children. When the study began in 1996, every participating family contained a 5th grader. Those 5th graders are now adults in their early 30’s!

In the ongoing study, researchers have collected data from the participants every two to three years, including self-reported questionnaires on the experiences of racial discrimination (i.e. racially based slurs, insults, and physical threats) and depressive symptoms. In 2015, the researchers also started taking blood samples to assess biomarkers that predict diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and to examine signs of aging on a cellular level. Over 200 papers have been published using data from the FACHS.

A 2019 study by Carter et al. included a subset of data from the FACHS. They found evidence that early life stress due to racial discrimination leads to depressive symptoms and increased risk for accelerated aging. Their findings build on previous research demonstrating a link between experiences of racial discrimination and accelerated aging.

Next, the FACHS research team plans to explore the role of resiliency and early life interventions that could possibly help to protect against the harmful effects of racism. You can read a research brief on this topic here at The Conversation.

Source:

Racism. Where do you fall? www.racismscale.weebly.com.

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The Racism Scale was created to help white people identify their racial bias towards People of Color along a graduated scale. At one end of the scale is “Terrorism” and at the other end is “Abolitionist.” In between, there are 11 other positions including “Subconscious racism,” “Defensive,” “Denial,” White Savior,” and “Performative Ally.” The creator notes, “It is common for many people to move back & forth along the scale regularly, especially the middle parts.”

The scale has been shared over 10k times and referenced in several articles. It has been updated and expanded five times since its creation. You can visit the webpage to see the progression of the scale from creation to its current version and to ask questions or suggest additions. Anyone is invited to use the graphic for non-profit social justice work (credit www.racismscale.weebly.com). For-profit enterprises that wish to use the scale may contact the creator.

The Racism Scale is a volunteer project! Consider donating to support this valuable initiative.

Dr. Kendi (author, professor, historian) teaches that there is no such thing as “not racist.” People in the U.S. grow up with constant exposure to racist ideas and racist policies that we learn to view as normal; we can’t just wake up one day and change all that. However, we can (and must!) commit to being antiracist, which means challenging racist ideas and racist policies on a daily basis.

“The heartbeat of racism is denial, is consistently saying, “I am not racist,” while the heartbeat of antiracism is confession, self-reflection, and seeking to grow change.”- Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, from The Millions Interview.

Source:

Smith, W. A., Yosso, T. & Solorzano, D. (2006). Challenging Racial Battle Fatigue on Historically White Campuses: A Critical Race Examination of Race-related Stress. In book: Faculty of Color Teaching in Predominantly White Colleges and Universities.

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There is a real phenomenon taking place that is harming the mental and physical health of Black people on a daily basis. Dr. William Smith, a professor and researcher at the University of Utah, coined the term “Racial Battle Fatigue” in the early 2000’s to describe what is happening.

Dr. Smith’s research focuses on his concept of Racial Battle Fatigue as an interdisciplinary theoretical framework that is useful for understanding the race-related experiences that contribute to disproportionate levels of stress among Black people. The term does not mean that Black civilians’ race-related experiences are the same as soldiers’ experiences in battle, but it draws a parallel between the battlefield and chronically hostile white spaces.  Constant stressors in the form of racial microaggressions are taxing on Black people. Racial microaggressions are subtle verbal and non-verbal racial insults directed at People of Color by White people, often automatically or unconsciously. The stress from this onslaught of indignities causes a mental, emotional, and physical burden (i.e. Racial Battle Fatigue) that takes a toll on health and wellbeing.

This groundbreaking area of research is inextricably linked with the field of maternal and child health because the framework explains how racism impacts racial health inequities. For example, elevated blood pressure is one of the psychophysiological symptoms of Racial Battle Fatigue, and studies have shown clear racial disparities in risk of serious illness and death from preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The Atlanta Black Star published an excellent article on the topic of Racial Battle Fatigue in 2016. They wrote, “White America tells Black people to get over the past, while Black people are suffering from the trauma of past and present racial oppression, and are tired of engaging in debates over racism, and justifying or explaining their experiences.”

It’s time to acknowledge that the past and present trauma is real and the fundamental factor that underlies our shameful racial health inequities is racism.

#microaggressions #racialbattlefatigue #racerelatedstress #racialhealthinequities #racebasedtrauma

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In last week’s anti-racism post, our research editor was looking up the research on the harmful effects of micro-aggressions, and she found an excellent handout from Hopkins, with specific examples of what micro-aggressions look and sound like.

This is Rebecca speaking— the founder of Evidence Based Birth. I made a commitment this year to do everything I can to educate fellow white birth professionals and health care professionals about racism. This includes educating white folks about specific things we need to STOP doing, and START doing instead. (If you aren’t familiar with the effects that racism has on maternal and newborn outcomes, just scroll through our feed and look through the black tiles. Also, check out our comments policy at ebbirth.com/comments … we have a zero tolerance policy for comments denying the existence of racism).

In today’s anti-racism post, I implore you to educate yourself about micro-aggressions. This was not something that was taught to me in school, college (nursing school), or graduate school. I had to learn about it myself. Once I learned what micro-aggressions looked and sounded like, I could check myself and make sure I was no longer complicit in using them.

Listen up, fellow white folks. We have GOT to STOP participating in creating constant micro-traumas for our Black friends, family, colleagues, students, and clients. Racial weathering is real. And it’s caused by people like me, who sometimes aren’t even aware of what we’re doing. Read the handout from Johns Hopkins [Link in bio]— it has VERY specific examples and it’s quite thorough. The handout should be required training for every hospital, academic center, and workplace! Read it today!

Educate yourself. When you know better, you do better!

Source:

Changing Woman Initiative (2020). A Native American Centered Women’s Health Collective 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. http://www.changingwomaninitiative.com/

Caption:

The Changing Woman Initiative (CWI), a 501(c)(3) organization in New Mexico founded by Native American midwife Nicolle Gonzales, is working to ensure access to decolonized, traditional maternity care options for Native American women.⁠
⁠
One of their projects is to create the nation’s first Indigenously focused birth center on tribal lands. At this dreamed birth center, mothers would be able to have a ceremony with Indigenous midwives, eat traditional foods during labor that give strength, use plant medicines, and move about freely in a space designed to feel sacred, calm, and safe. There would be tubs, showers, fireplaces, and ample space for supporting family members.⁠
⁠
The building itself incorporates elements of the natural landscape in the design and utilizes natural light, solar power, and water preservation— in keeping with traditional values about people’s connection to the land.⁠
⁠
“We want our building to be a living embodiment of wellness and healing.”
⁠
In contrast, labor and delivery units in the Western medical health care system often impose strict hospital protocols forbidding food, as well as restricting mobility during labor, dictating positioning during birth, and limiting the number of visitors.⁠
⁠
In addition to planning the birth center, the CWI also offers homebirth services and an easy access clinic that serves Indigenous women regardless of their ability to pay.⁠
⁠
There are high rates of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, in Native communities. Colonialism and its destruction of food systems have cut Native people off from their traditional lifestyle and diet, and this has led to food-based diseases. To address this, the CWI partners with local Indigenous farmers to develop food baskets for prenatal and postpartum families.⁠
⁠
The visionary leader of this organization is telling us ways to help heal Native families and future generations. We must listen and act now to support their Mission!⁠

#racism #maternalhealth #indigenouspeople #indigenousbirths #indigenousmidwives

Source:

Jamaa Birth Village (2020). A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Maternal Health Organization. https://jamaabirthvillage.org/

Caption:

At Jamaa Birth Village 501(c)(3) in Missouri, people of color are empowered with education, respect, and holistic midwifery care with skilled doula support.⁠
⁠
Brittany “Tru” Kellman, Founder and Executive Director of Jamaa Birth Village, created Jamaa through a vision received while in Africa, standing at the same seaside where her ancestors were forcibly captured, torn from their loved ones, and brought to the Americas in horrific, inhumane conditions. In that vision she understood that her work was to bring traditional, holistic, African-centered midwifery care back to St. Louis. In order to combat U.S. racial and health inequities, she would work to restore and reclaim the traditional ways of caring for birthing families.⁠
⁠
Tru experienced obstetrical abuse giving birth as a teen mom in St. Louis. She was mistreated, ignored and left feeling disempowered. She knew she deserved better care than she received. At Jamaa (which means “family” in Swahili), clients are treated the way you would want your family member treated.⁠
⁠
Clients are supported with a variety of services including comprehensive prenatal and postpartum visits with a midwife; individualized birth doula support; individualized childbirth and nutrition classes; massage and chiropractic care; newborn feeding support; and access to mental health services, herbal medicines, and even baskets of fresh organic produce.⁠
⁠
In a celebration of cultural heritage, Jamaa created an Apothecary that is accessible and affordable to everyone. Holistic body workers provide relief from the toxic stress we know can impact pregnancy outcomes.⁠
⁠
In 2019, Tru became Missouri’s first Black certified professional midwife (CPM), in order to serve families in the provider role. Jamaa has supported over 400 families since June of 2016 and trained over 90 doulas of color since 2016. When they first started this work there were only five practicing doulas of color in the St. Louis region.⁠
⁠
I encourage you to support Jamaa Birth Village’s work and learn more from Tru herself by listening to our recent conversation on EBB Podcast Episode 148!

Source:

Cooper Owens, Diedre. Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2017.

Caption:

Chances are, you’ve never heard of Dr. J. Marion Sims, even though you may have had his medical invention- the Sims speculum- inserted into your vagina. Sims is regarded by many as the “Father of Modern Gynecology.” In the 20th and 21st centuries, however, people have labeled Sims a “polarizing figure.” Likely, because of Sims’ “ethically fraught history” and racism, which included perfecting his gynecological surgical procedures on enslaved female bodies without the use of anesthesia. ⁠
⁠
Between 1845 and 1849, Dr. Sims, an Alabama surgeon, repeatedly operated on enslaved women in order to find a cure for gynecological fistulas. Slave owners saw women with this condition as “unfit” for their “duties required as a servant” and so they were happy to “lease” these women to Sims for his surgical experiments (Cooper Owens). ⁠
⁠
In the past decade, scholars like @deirdrecooperowens have challenged us to shift the focus away from a discussion of Sims and the illnesses he treated and on to the 3 black women who were both patients and nurses. Their names were Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy. Dr. Cooper Owens states we should consider these women as the “maternal counterparts” to Sims, or the Mothers of Gynecology.⁠
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In the book Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology (2017), Dr. Cooper Owens uncovers Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy’s roles as Sims’ surgical nurses AND as women who continued to do physical labor on the plantation, care for their children, and serve as experimental subjects. As Dr. Cooper Owens says, Medical Bondage is “not so much about historical recovery as it is about a holistic retrieval of owned women’s lives outside the hospital bed.”⁠
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Let’s begin to honor the Mothers of Gynecology. Say their names: Anarcha, Betsy, Lucy⁠
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#medicalbondage #lucybetsyanarcha #jmarionsims #gynecology #slavery #sayhername #blacklivesmatter #blackmaternalhealth⁠
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Read Dr. Diedre Cooper Owen’s book: Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2017.⁠
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Caption written by Tyler Jean Dukes (@birthandbooks), supported by her doctoral fellowship.⁠

Source:

Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Policy Working Group. Advancing Holistic Maternal Care for Black Women through Policy. Atlanta, GA. December 2018.

Caption:

The term White Paper is used to refer to an official report from an authority, usually describing and proposing a solution to a problem. In a genius reversal of words, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (@blackmamasmatter) published their first Black Paper in April 2018. In it, they outlined a vision for holistic maternal health care centered on reproductive justice and human rights.⁠
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According to the BMMA, holistic care: addresses gaps in care and ensures continuity of care; is affordable and accessible; is confidential, safe and trauma-informed; ensures informed consent; is centered around Black women and Black families; is culturally-informed and includes traditional practices; is culturally competent and congruent; respects spirituality and spiritual health; honors and fosters resilience; includes the voices of all Black Mamas; is responsive to the needs of all genders and family relationships; and provides wraparound services and connections to social services.⁠
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The BMMA’s second Black Paper (December 2018) describes policy solutions to help achieve the vision of holistic maternal health care for Black women and families. In brief, the three policy priorities that they identified are to 1) “Identify and ensure mechanisms for engagement and prioritization of Black women and Black-women led entities in policy and program development and implementation,” 2) “Establish equitable systems of care to address racism, obstetric violence, neglect, and abuse”, and 3) “Expand and protect meaningful access to quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care coverage, which includes the full spectrum of reproductive and maternal health care services for Black women.”⁠
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For full details, we encourage you to read both of the BMMA Black papers on their website. We also encourage you to donate and learn more at blackmamasmatter.org⁠.⁠

#blackmamasmatter #blackmaternalhealth #blackmamasmatteralliance

Source:

1) Hinton, Perry. “Implicit Stereotypes and the Predictive Brain: Cognition and Culture in ‘Biased’ Person Perception.” Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, vol. 3, no. 17086, 2017. 

2) Roeder, Amy. “America is Failing Its Black Mothers.” Harvard Public Health, Winter 2019. 

3) Vedam, S., Stoll, K., Taiwo, T.K. et al. “The Giving Voice to Mothers Study: Inequity and Mistreatment During Pregnancy and Childbirth in the United States.” Reproductive Health, no. 15, vol. 77,  p. 1-18, 2019.

Caption:

If you are Black, Latinx, or Indigenous, you are far more likely to experience implicit stereotyping (aka racism), or cognitive bias, in a medical setting. Patient-provider interactions, treatment decisions, treatment adherence, and patient health outcomes can all be affected by a provider’s bias (Hall et al). ⁠
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Behaviorally, implicit stereotyping may manifest as mistreatment via “verbal abuse, stigma and discrimination, and delays and refusals in care” (Vedam et al). ⁠
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For Serena Williams, Winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, mistreatment came in the form of delayed treatment for postpartum complications. When Williams reported experiencing shortness of breath- a symptom she was familiar with; she had previously had a blood clot in her lungs- her nurse suggested she must “be confused” by her pain medication, delaying treatment for multiple blood clots and a hemorrhage in her C-section wound. This is one reason, among many, why entities like Harvard Public Health have declared Black Maternal Mortality in the U.S. a Human Rights Crisis.⁠
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Of the 2,7000 birthing individuals who filled out the U.S. Giving Voice to Mothers survey (@birthplacelab), 1 in 6 (17.3%) reported mistreatment by providers. Of those who reported being ill-treated, 8.5% were scolded or shouted at by a provider, 7.8% had providers delay care, 5.5% reported violations of physical privacy, and 4.5% were threatened by the withholding of treatment or given treatment the patient did not consent to (Vedam et al.). Indigenous people experienced mistreatment at the highest rate, closely followed by Hispanic and Black people. ⁠
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It is important to note that EVEN THOSE PROVIDERS who “consciously reject stereotypes” and “seek to be fair in their judgment of other people,” still demonstrate bias against people of color, which can emerge as mistreatment (Hall et al; Hinton).⁠
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Our health care providers, government, and communities need to address this mistreatment of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous individuals- now!⁠
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#healthdisparities #blackmaternalhealth #BIPOC #racism #Latinx #Indigenous⁠
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Caption and research by Tyler Jean Dukes (@birthandbooks), supported by her doctoral fellowship.

Source:

Collins, J. W. Jr., Wu, S. Y. and David, R. J. (2002). Differing intergenerational birth weights among the descendants of US-born and foreign-born Whites and African Americans in Illinois. Am J Epidemiol. 155(3), 210‐216.

Caption:

This difference in intergenerational birth weights is evidence that it’s the harmful environmental exposure of racism directed towards people with brown or black skin that is to blame for the U.S. disparity in birth outcomes. Black infants in the U.S. are more likely to be low birth weight (<2,500 g) compared to White infants. Researchers have considered many factors such as the birthing person’s age, marital status, income, number of prior births, time between pregnancies, and cigarette smoking, but they have not been able to explain this birth weight disparity.⁠
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Researchers in Illinois analyzed birth weight patterns over three generations for US-born and foreign-born White mothers and Black mothers. US-born and foreign-born White mothers had significantly larger babies over time and fewer babies with low birth weight. US-born Black mothers had slightly larger babies over three generations, but the improvement was much smaller than that seen with the White mothers. Foreign-born Black mothers actually had babies with lower birth weights over time.⁠
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The researchers previously found that Black infants with foreign-born mothers had birth weights similar to White infants, while Black infants with US-born mothers were at a birth weight disadvantage. These intergenerational birth weight patterns suggest that foreign-born Black parents experience harmful exposures in the U.S. that leads to deterioration in birth weight.⁠
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We must preserve the health of foreign-born People of Color and support US-born People of Color in such a way as to counteract the harmful effects of racism!⁠
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#BlackDoulasMatter, #BlackBirthsMatter #BlackMidwives, #BlackMaternalCare, #BlackPerinatalCare

Source:

Thomas, M. P., Ammann, G., Brazier, E., et al. (2017). Doula Services Within a Healthy Start Program: Increasing Access for an Underserved Population. Maternal and child health journal, 21(Suppl 1), 59–64. Click here.

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We need more programs like the By My Side program through Healthy Start Brooklyn! They hire doulas to provide support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The program focuses mainly on supporting Black pregnant people, since this group has the highest infant death rate in the area. ⁠
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Not only did program participants have significantly lower rates of preterm birth and low birth weight, they also expressed that doula support was highly valued (Thomas et al. 2017). For example, one of the participants described how their doula made a huge difference: “I would’ve had no one there; it was just me and her. If it wasn’t for her, maybe I wouldn’t even get through it, because she really helped a lot”.⁠
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Access to continuous labor support from a doula is especially vital for birthing People of Color. However, the unjust reality is that those who could most benefit from doula care frequently have the least access to it. To address the existing health disparities, it is imperative that continuous labor support be accessible to everyone and provided by a culturally diverse doula workforce.⁠
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Are you a Black doula? Please tag yourself in the comments so we can thank you! ⁠
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#HealthyStartBrooklyn, #BlackBrooklynParents, #BlackBrooklynMamas, #BlackBrooklynMothers, #BlackBrooklynMoms, #BlackDoulasMatter, #BlackBirthsMatter

Source:

Redgrave, Naida and Alleanna Harris. The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole. Puffin. 2019.

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If you were asked to name the most famous nurse in history, most people would say “Florence Nightingale.”

But what about Mary Seacole? A Black, Jamaican/Scottish doctoress, who cured illnesses with herbs and medicines? Who traveled alone as a woman in the 1800s? Who served during a cholera epidemic in Panama? Who paid her own way to the Crimean front after being told no more nurses were needed? Who brought her own medicines and food for soldiers? Why don’t we think about Mary Seacole as a famous nurse? [Short answer = white supremacy].

The long answer is that despite being well-loved during her time, Seacole was ignored by historians until the 1980’s (Redgrave & Harris). Now, her merits are questioned. Some suggest that Seacole’s hospital visits were merely “social” in nature (McDonald). Others say that Florence Nightingale published pamphlets and papers on nursing, while Seacole “only” published a memoir (Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands). Even more take umbrage with the fact that Mary supported herself as an entrepreneur. Making matters complex, Mary–as a multi-racial woman–showed colorism against those darker than her.

Tema Okun’s article “white supremacy culture” (dismantlingracism.org) can help unpack the white supremacist culture responsible for critiques of Mary Seacole’s legacy. Okun explains that part of white supremacist culture is “worshipping the written word,” aka “if it’s not in a memo, it doesn’t exist.” Just because Seacole did not publish extensively on her nursing practice does not mean it did not exist or was not impactful. White supremacist culture values either/or thinking–people are either good or bad. In other words, it would be “easier” for historians to glorify Seacole’s work as a care provider if she did not have a complex existence as a human. Rather than engaging with the tension, people ignore Mary Seacole altogether.

Mary Seacole was a Black woman. A nurse and doctoress. And her ways of healing and determination in the 1800s deserve to be remembered.

#blacklivesmatter #spotlight #whitesupremacistculture

Caption and research compiled by Tyler Jean Dukes (@birthandbooks), supported by her doctoral fellowship

Posted on June 25, 2020

Source:

Giscombé, C. L. and Lobel, M. (2005). Explaining Disproportionately High Rates of Adverse Birth Outcomes Among African Americans: The Impact of Stress, Racism, and Related Factors in Pregnancy. Psychological Bulletin, 131(5), 662-683. Click here.

Caption:

I had the honor of speaking with Ihotu Ali @ihotuali , an EBB Pro Member and the co-founder of the Minneapolis Healing Justice Network (@mnhealingjustice), about their work on the front lines in Minneapolis. Ihotu suggested we make the research evidence on racism and maternal health more readily accessible to our audience. We greatly appreciate Ihotu’s suggestion and for the next few months, you can expect EBB to share especially poignant research findings about Black maternal health each Thursday. Please remember that *RACISM* and white supremacy are the cause of any racial disparities. And remember that there ARE known solutions… Black midwives, Black doulas, and Black nurses hold the key!! Black midwives such as Jennie Joseph (@iamjenniejoseph) and Uzazi Village (@uzazivillage) and Mamatoto Village (@mamatotovillage) and Jamaa Birth Village (@jamaabirthvillage), and San Antonio Nurse Midwife (@sanantonionursemidwife), among so many others, are living proof that we can eliminate and reduce disparities under their leadership. Read the research, but recognize the opportunities for justice and equity.
– Rebecca⁠

Posted on July 2, 2020

Source:

Gyamfi-Bannerman, C., Srinivas, S. K., Wright, J. D., et al. (2018). Postpartum hemorrhage outcomes and race. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 219(2), 185.e1–185.e10. Click here.

Caption:

We just spent 9 months reviewing the research on postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and the use of Pitocin in the third stage of labor (ebbirth.com/thirdstage). During this review, we learned that a high-quality study found that Black birthing people with PPH were five times more likely to die of PPH than White birthing people with PPH (Gyamfi-Bannerman et al., 2018). ⁠

⁠It’s racial bias, or racism, that leads to a higher rate of severe illness or die from PPH. How? Racial bias in the assessment of PPH is a major concern, because poor recognition of PPH delays treatment. Racism in the lack of prompt treatment of PPH is also a huge problem (As @iamjenniejoseph told us in Evidence Based Birth Podcast Episode 136, some health care workers will say, “Oh, we don’t need to get the hemorrhage cart just yet. She’ll be fine”).⁠
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Other researchers have found that Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian women in the maternity care system were twice as likely as White women to report that a health care provider ignored them, refused to answer their request for help, or failed to respond to their request for help in a reasonable amount of time (Vedam et al. 2019).⁠
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Racism, not race, causes this shocking disparity in PPH-related deaths. It’s time for health care workers and health care institutions to address this racism head on. Black midwives and Black nurses and Black doctors know the solutions. Today, we encourage you to follow the work of Black maternal health advocates @timoriamcqueen and @4kira4moms. Support their work! #blacklivesmatter