The Crisis in Black Maternal Health

• ⚠️ Black mothers face significantly higher maternal and infant mortality rates, more than double the average, and Black women are over three times more likely to die in childbirth compared to white counterparts.
• 💔 Heart disease is identified as the leading cause of maternal and infant complications and deaths, making the connection between maternal and cardiovascular health critical.
• 📈 The US has the highest maternal death rates among high-income countries, with a stark racial divide disproportionately affecting Black women.

The Role of Cardiologists and ABC's Initiative

• 🩺 The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) launched the "We Are The Faces of Black Maternal Health™" campaign to raise awareness and address cardiovascular disease in the Black community.
• 🤝 ABC, along with the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, issued a statement emphasizing that all cardiovascular specialists must understand the connection between pregnancy and future cardiovascular health.
• 🗣️ Cardiologists need to be more comfortable asking about pregnancy history and collaborating with obstetricians to manage patients effectively.

Personal Experiences and Advocacy

• 👩‍⚕️ Aryana Jacobs shared her experience with postpartum preeclampsia, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy when care teams dismiss concerns.
• 💡 Preeclampsia is a hypertensive crisis that can occur during or after pregnancy, with symptoms including extreme swelling and a sense of impending doom.
• 🗣️ Both Maria Love and Aryana's stories underscore the need for patients, especially Black women, to advocate for themselves and seek second opinions if they feel unheard.

Building a Collaborative Maternal Care Team

• 🤰 An ideal maternal care team should include an obstetrician or midwife, and potentially specialists like a maternal fetal medicine specialist or a cardiologist, depending on risk factors.
• 🤝 A doula is crucial as a community health advocate, providing support throughout preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods.
• 👨‍⚕️ Primary care clinicians play a vital role in pre-conception and postpartum health optimization, managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
• 👶 Pediatricians are essential for establishing generational health by focusing on diet, exercise, and regular check-ups for children, identifying risks early.

Addressing Bias and Empowering Black Women

• 👂 Dr. Phillips, as an OB/GYN, emphasizes the importance of believing patients' stories and recognizing coded language like "aggressive" or "anxious" as potential signs of medical bias.
• ⚖️ Healthcare providers must conduct an internal check for bias to ensure optimal care is delivered, especially to Black women who are often stereotyped.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Black men play an integral role in the birth team, and educating them about pregnancy risks and providing them with actionable tasks can alleviate stress for the birthing person.

Finding Joy and Resources

• ✨ Despite concerning statistics, the majority of pregnancies and deliveries are healthy and uncomplicated; celebrating these moments is vital.
• 📚 Resources like ABC's "We Are The Faces" campaign infographics offer guidance on what to ask clinicians and how to find joy during the maternal journey.
• 💖 Knowledge is power, and self-advocacy, combined with strong social support networks, is key to navigating the maternal health system and experiencing the joy of bringing new life into the world.