More Than a Statistic: How Black Women's Birth Stories Can Reshape Maternal Healthcare in the U.S.

Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, regardless of income or education (Fields par. 38). This paper examines oral histories from Black women in the CDC's Hear Her campaign to uncover the root causes of these inequities and suggest improvements for maternal healthcare. Through analysis of these narratives, alongside blog posts, journalistic accounts, and testimonies from the book Pregnant While Black (Rainford, 2023), recurring themes of neglect, bias, and emotional harm are identified. The dismissal of patient concerns breeds mistrust in the medical system, revealing that racism permeates maternal care. Systemic racism fosters a culture of neglect towards Black and marginalized women. These narratives also highlight paths for improvement, including enhanced cultural competency training, patient-centered communication, and advocacy programs. Centering Black women's lived experiences in healthcare is crucial to addressing disparities and improving maternal outcomes.