Black Maternal Health Week, recognized since 2021, occurs from April 11 to April 17 and highlights the statistics that Black women are more than three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes in the United States, regardless of their income or education. Research has also shown that Black babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as White babies.
The Staggering Statistics of Maternal Deaths
The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that 84% of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable. However, the quality of care one receives can depend on many factors, including where you live and even your health insurance.
In California, Black mothers make up just 5% of those who give birth, yet they account for 22% of pregnancy-related deaths.
April Valentine’s story is one of those that make up that statistic. In January 2023, April, a then-31-year-old healthy Black woman, went to an Inglewood hospital to give birth. When she was denied the presence of her doula (a person who is trained to provide emotional, physical, and educational support for an expecting mother), April was forced to endure multiple failed attempts to administer an epidural. During that time, her pain was ignored, and she died during childbirth as a result.
Following a public outcry, the hospital that April visited was issued a $75,000 fine, a rare occurrence but not enough to create actual change. That hospital would eventually shut down its maternity ward, which would leave the disproportionately Black and Latino communities with fewer options for safe and respectful care. This hospital was one of 56 California maternity clinics that closed since 2012, 13 of which were for-profit companies in LA County.
A Firm Rising to the Occasion
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) has since risen to the challenge of working closely with patients and closing the critical gaps in care and support that have affected the Black maternal health crisis. Their services are embedded in hospitals such as Olive View and LAC+USC through their Health Consumer Center and Medical Legal Partnerships.
The NLSLA’s attorneys in the Health Consumer Center work with patients and providers to eliminate legal and systemic barriers to maternal health. They have helped clients access out-of-network specialists for high-risk pregnancies and secured newborn insurance coverage when red tape threatens to affect care. Their advocacy for better provider communication, patient rights against medical debt, and civil rights agencies shows that, when systems fall short, they ensure pregnant patients are not navigating their journeys alone.
While preventable deaths continue, Medical now covers doula care, as well as postpartum mental health care for those who experience depression after pregnancy.
While the Black Maternal Health Crisis will not fix itself, urgent action from policymakers and healthcare providers, and communities must support the crisis and support the Black mothers who deserve more than awareness.
The Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County is committed to making the future of healthcare safer and more accessible for the Black community.
