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For many, welcoming a new child is a profoundly significant life event, but for women of color, particularly Black women, the experience can also come with heightened fears. The systemic racial disparities in healthcare, especially concerning maternal care, are well-documented and often leave Black mothers feeling overlooked and unsupported. In light of these realities, a growing number of Black women, including actress Maya Johnson, are selecting healthcare providers who share their racial background. In a heartfelt essay for Women’s Health Magazine, Johnson shared her decision to assemble an all-Black care team for the arrival of her second child.
“I discovered I was pregnant on the same day George Floyd was killed,” she reflected. “It was an overwhelming mix of grief and joy. Being Black in America during such a turbulent time was incredibly challenging. While I embrace my identity, it was hard to recognize that this nation often doesn’t cater to us. I was bringing another Black child into this world, and I wanted his entry to be a different experience. I wanted him to be welcomed by Black hands that could provide me with the care I rightfully deserved.”
Johnson’s sentiments resonate with countless African American women who are increasingly seeking care from Black healthcare professionals. The stark reality is that Black women are three to four times more likely to face severe complications during childbirth compared to their white counterparts, with some places reporting rates six times higher. This alarming trend highlights the adverse effects of the “strong Black woman” stereotype, which can lead to inadequate care during pregnancy and postpartum.
Often, Black women’s pain and concerns are dismissed, and they are less likely to receive thorough monitoring for conditions like preeclampsia and hypertension, despite being at an elevated risk for such complications. “I wanted my worries and pain to be acknowledged, without having to explain my experiences with conditions like fibroids or my fears of C-sections due to keloid scars, which are more common in darker-skinned individuals. While not always dangerous, keloid scars can be uncomfortable and limit movement,” Johnson elaborated.
Maya Johnson isn’t the only prominent Black woman to address the inequalities in maternal healthcare. Tennis champion Serena Williams openly shared her harrowing experience with medical staff during childbirth in a 2018 Vogue interview, where her serious concerns about a pulmonary embolism were initially dismissed as mere confusion from pain medication. After advocating for herself, she was finally given a CT scan, revealing multiple blood clots in her lungs.
The sobering truth remains that Black women often face barriers to quality healthcare, but even those as prominent as Serena Williams are not immune to the biases inherent in medical settings. It emphasizes that factors like fame, education, or insurance do not outweigh the reality of racial discrimination within healthcare.
For women with low-risk pregnancies, alternatives to traditional hospital births are becoming more attractive. Options such as home births, birthing centers, and midwives offer new parents a variety of choices for their birthing plan. Additionally, as Johnson did, hiring a doula can provide essential support and advocacy during the birthing process and the postpartum period.
“I want women to know that we have choices when it comes to childbirth,” Johnson concluded. “There’s no right or wrong way. I hope other women feel as empowered and heard as I did, because everyone deserves that.” For more information on home insemination, check out our blog post here.
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Summary:
Maya Johnson, star of “Insecure,” chose an all-Black care team for her second child’s birth, highlighting the importance of representation in maternal healthcare. Her essay discusses the unique challenges Black women face in pregnancy, including systemic racism and inadequate pain management. By advocating for her needs, Johnson emphasizes the importance of personalized care and encourages other women to explore their birthing options, including hiring doulas and considering alternative birthing methods.