This episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast is all about the realities of black maternal health here in the US, and what we can do to spark change!
I actually put this article out last year, but I wanted to re-release it this week in honor of Black Maternal Health Week.
We’ve done some feed posts over on IG about this topic to help raise awareness, but I knew I wanted to take more of a deep dive over here on the podcast.
It’s a topic that can be really heavy in some ways, but it’s one that needs a LOT of light! If we’re going to spark any kind of change surrounding racism in healthcare (and specifically in black maternal health) I truly believe that awareness is the first step.
About Black Maternal Health Week
The Black Mamas Matter Alliance is sponsoring the fifth annual Black Maternal Health week this year with the goal to:
- Raise awareness about the problems
- Enrich the dialogue surrounding black maternal health
- Promote solutions, policies, and research
- Increase community involvement
All surrounding the disparities in black maternal health care. And my goal with this episode is to be a part of that conversation!
Today’s guest, Dr. Jasmine Johnson, MD
So, joining me today is my dear friend Jasmine Johnson, an MD, wife, mom of two, and maternal-fetal medicine fellow at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She’s also the founder and content creator for the blog and Instagram account @mrsmommymd.
In the episode, we discussed:
- Statistics surrounding the black maternal mortality rate
- Why is this such a staggering number
- Jasmine’s personal history navigating the healthcare system as a black mom
- Actionable steps that providers and black mothers can take to address this issue
- And so much more
Related: 23 Ways to Advocate during Pregnancy
About Jasmine Johnson, MD
Jasmine Johnson, MD is a wife, mother of two, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, her medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Johnson is the founder and content creator of the blog: The Mrs. The Mommy. The M.D.
She currently serves on the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine – Health Policy and Advocacy Committee and co-chairs the Diversity Task Force for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UNC.
Dr. Johnson’s research interests include health disparities within the obstetric population, and quality improvement efforts to help reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. Jasmine continues to strive to be a fierce evidence-based advocate for the Black community.
You can connect with Jasmine in a couple of different places:
- On her website: www.MrsMommyMD.com
- Instagram: @MrsMommyMD
- Facebook: MrsMommyMD
Here are some of the resources she mentions in the episode:
- National Birth Equity Collaborative
https://birthequity.org
https://www.instagram.com/birthequity/ - 4Kira4Moms
4Kira4moms.com
https://www.instagram.com/4kira4moms/ - This is the birth plan/convo starters she mentions from the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/article/black-mothers-birth.html
