new york –Black Maternal and Child Health Week begins Thursday. This is a national week of action to raise awareness of racial disparities in maternal health outcomes across the country. the statistics are staggering.
On March 19th, Kathryn Hurley welcomed her second son, Rafael, into the world.
“When I hugged him, I was like, okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, he's okay. It was just like the biggest relief ever,” she said.
The 38-year-old man had factor V Leiden, an inherited blood clotting disorder, and was considered “high risk.” She developed a blood clot early in her pregnancy.
“I was lucky to have a doctor who took my pain seriously…I don't know that many women of color have the same experience,” she said.
For Hurley as a patient, finding a doctor who would listen and advocating for herself was important, especially as a Black woman learning the alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
“That's what you think in the back of your mind. You're in a very vulnerable position because your life and your baby's life is in the hands of professionals. You just have to assume there's no bias in the room.' Hurley said.
“It's so important for all of us to listen to our health care and our patients and decide where it goes so everyone can have equal access to care,” said Mount Sinai West. said Dr. Lois Brustman, an obstetrician-gynecologist and maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
The emphasis is on Mount Sinai West, where Hurley has made deliveries. Hospital systems analyze their own data to see where they need to improve.
“We've been able to significantly reduce our C-section rates and close the gap,” said Dr. Desmond Sutton, medical director of labor and delivery at Mount Sinai West Hospital.
Sutton said he is part of a committee that focuses on the social determinants of health, or the influence of non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.
“The same goes for patients with pre-eclampsia. How does housing instability affect those outcomes? For patients with diabetes, how does food insecurity affect those outcomes? Because the hope is that we can use this data to advocate for change in our communities,” he said. .
“I certainly think so. Talk about Black maternal and child healthtalking about that experience is kind of the first step,” Hurley said.
She also called for making room for more Black professionals in the health care system.
“So when I look around the room and see more women of color, it makes me feel supported, because they may be going through the same things that I am. ” she said.
According to the CDC: More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventableThat's why raising awareness is so important.
