• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Hispanic News || Shirley Ann Flower Shop || RS Deer Ranch
March 20, 2023
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
  • AframNews Media Kit
  • About
  • Paper Locations
Home Opinion Editorial

Black Women, Pregnancy and Death

aframnews by aframnews
November 13, 2018
in Editorial
0
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

 

You might also like

School Vouchers: Good or Bad?

Emotional Intelligence: Do you, have it?

In or Out

By Chelsea Davis-Bibb

When a new baby is on the way, there is a lot of excitement. However, the process to get the baby here safely can be stressful, overwhelming and sadly, even deadly.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported that “women in the U.S. are more likely to die from childbirth or a pregnancy related cause than other women in the developed world.” As a nation that is developed and filled with many technological advances, you would think that this would not be the case.

In addition, “The risk of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women is 3 to 4 times higher than those of White women.” Why is this?

I recently became a mother to a beautiful baby girl on July 11th. I didn’t have the easiest pregnancy, but no one could have prepared me for what was to come. I went into labor thinking I was going to have a normal delivery.

Shortly thereafter, my water broke, things started to go downhill. Several times, my daughter’s heart rate continued to drop. The nurses would put me in different positions to get her rate stabilized, but shortly after they did, it would just drop again. They even gave me medicine to speed the labor process up, but I wouldn’t dilate past four centimeters.

After ten hours in, a fever and another heart rate drop later, the doctor came rushing in and said “we have to take her.” I knew what that meant right away, a C-section. The tears immediately rushed down my face as terror filled my heart. This was my biggest fear as I had never had surgery before, and it seemed as if my nightmare had turned into my reality.

The umbilical cord was wrapped around my daughter’s neck. Thankfully, everything went well and my baby and I are doing well. But what if everything didn’t go well? What if things went wrong? After reading about the data from the CDC, I couldn’t help but think about the “what ifs?” I do want another child one day, and even though I can’t live in fear, this research is something that will stick with me.

The idea that Black women are more at risk at facing a pregnancy related death is baffling, and even though there may not be a definite answer, there are a few things that I found. For one, overall health may be a factor. How we as Black women take care of ourselves is very important.

There are so many health issues that occurs in the Black race like high blood pressure, and diabetes, just to name a few, and this could impact the pregnancy.

In addition, there is a lot of poverty within the Black race, so women of color may not have access to proper health care. There was also a discussion about the hospital a woman selects and the care she receives. When you are pregnant there are many appointments that need to be attended and etc., but, if a woman does not have access to insurance, she may not be able to provide good health care for herself or her baby.

Having a baby is not cheap, so if money is an issue, the woman may not be as willing to receive the health care that is needed. Although these are just a few factors, genetics and the environment can also play a big role in this as well.

There is so much that can go wrong during pregnancy, delivery, and even after birth, and in some situations, some things can’t be prevented. One thing I found interesting was that women are still at risk of dying up to a year after giving birth. My daughter is about to turn 4 months old, so that means I am still at risk.

I am not a doctor, but there are a few things that women can and should do in order to increase their chances of having a safe delivery and healthy life. It is important that women take care of themselves not only during the pregnancy, but before and after. This includes working out, eating right and getting the proper amount of rest. During pregnancy, it is also imperative that women go to all appointments and take their pre-natal vitamins.

In addition, women need to find a doctor that is knowledgeable, experienced and someone they feel like they can trust. If you sense that something may be wrong or not seem right, a woman should not take the risk of being okay, but should go to the doctor immediately.

Most importantly, women need to educate themselves about the process it takes to have a baby and even the process that occurs after delivery. When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started reading about the different aspects of pregnancy.

I even attended a few classes. I did not want to go into the process blind, and I am glad I attended the classes. If God blesses us to give birth, we must do whatever we can to take care of ourselves so that we can enjoy the little bundle of joy long after delivery.

 

Share30Tweet19
aframnews

aframnews

Recommended For You

School Vouchers: Good or Bad?

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
March 18, 2023
0

Governor Abbott has made it clear that he supports a “school choice” policy and how Texas needs to “create an education savings account program.” This is about parental...

Read more

Emotional Intelligence: Do you, have it?

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
March 11, 2023
0
Emotional Intelligence: Do you, have it?

I strongly believe that a lot of our world and personal issues can be resolved through Emotional Intelligence (EI). “EI is the ability to manage both your own...

Read more

In or Out

by Bobby E Mills, PhD
March 3, 2023
0
In or Out

The question is: Are you a constitutionalist? Or are you a Fairweather American? This question must be asked simply because Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP, and White Nationalist...

Read more

Another Day Another Shooting

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
February 19, 2023
0

It seems as if gun violence has become the norm. Another day passes and another shooting occurs. Nowhere seems safe, and no one seems to be doing much...

Read more

We Real Cool

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
February 4, 2023
0

At heart, I am a writer. I always have been, and I always will be. Every year we celebrate Black History Month, and we pay tribute to the...

Read more
Next Post

The Cost of Leadership

Latest Articles

HSPVA Black Alumni Network presents….The Wiz Emerald City Experience

HSPVA Black Alumni Network presents….The Wiz Emerald City Experience

March 18, 2023
Houston Family Arts Legacy

Houston Family Arts Legacy

March 18, 2023
HSPVA’s The Wiz

HSPVA’s The Wiz

March 18, 2023

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Hispanic News
  • Shirley Ann’s Flower Shop
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Afram TV
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?