Her name was ShaAsia Washington from Brooklyn, NY. She was 26 years old. She went to the hospital for high blood pressure only for them to keep her for two days without any medicine. She later died while having a c-section. She gave birth to beautiful baby girl Khloe ShaAsia Anne Lopez. This week, we want to talk about the Black Maternal Health Crisis. We want to give voice to women in our community who are continuing this work to support her legacy. This week, we will be talking to Tracie Collins, founder of the National Black Doulas Association (NBDA). The NBDA connects Black birthing families with Black Doulas nationwide. The overall mission at NBDA is to help fight the Black Maternal Mortality rate in this country and beyond, through educational development and empowerment.
This article came out in the New York Times a few years ago, and the crisis continues. Here are some staggering numbers, according to NPR:
- The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the industrialized world.
- These maternal deaths are largely lead by a single demographic: Black Women.
- Black Women in the US are 243% more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth related causes.
- Black mothers die at 3-4x the rate of white mothers, one of the widest of all racial disparities in women’s health.
- Black mothers die at 12x the rate of white mothers in the state of New York during pregnancy or childbirth.
- The risk of death for Black babies is double that of White, Asian and Hispanic babies.
We will be holding space for this important discussion and highlighting the voices that are doing the work. We send healing light to her beautiful baby girl and loving husband.
Articles About Maternal Health Crisis in the United States Resources from Pfw.guide:
- https://longreads.com/2018/06/13/a-frustrating-year-of-reporting-on-black-maternal-health/
- https://rewire.news/article/2018/04/11/maternal-health-replace-race-with-racism
- https://www.vox.com/first-person/2020/5/28/21272380/black-mothers-grief-sadness-covid-19
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/02/amber-rose-isaac-new-york-childbirth-death
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/magazine/black-mothers-babies-death-maternal-mortality.html
- https://www.colorlines.com/articles/read-how-racism-makes-pregnancy-dangerous-black-women
- https://www.npr.org/2017/12/07/568948782/black-mothers-keep-dying-after-giving-birth-shalon-irvings-story-explains-why
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/feb/21/serena-williams-maternal-mortality-crisis
Artwork Credit: Angelica Marie
Christina is a mama, conservationist, DIY’er, vintage fanatic, dog lover and the Ergobaby director of community. She is passionate about babies, babywearing, birth, yoga, natural living, and healthy eats. When not online reading and writing about all of the above, she can be found spending time with her daughter, creating their family story in Los Angeles.
