Black Maternal Health Key Part of Birmingham’s Babypalooza Baby Expo

The Birmingham Times Babypalooza’s Black Maternal Health Expo returned on Saturday along with the Babypalooza Baby Expo to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) East Ballroom. Hundreds of visitors and dozens of local and national exhibitors that specialize in baby and maternity products and services filled the BJCC for the event that included starting a baby registry; interviewing preschools; starting a college savings plan and learning the essentials of caring for moms-to-be and the baby. In the United States, Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal health disparities, facing a maternal mortality rate that is nearly three times higher than that of white women. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support and resources tailored specifically to the unique challenges Black mothers face. UAB Perinatal Nurse Navigators, from left, Sumayah Abed, MD, Bre’Lynn Smith, DO, TeShawn Hardy, RN, Robin Willingham, Paula Thomas, RN (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times) The Black Maternal Health Expo (BMHE) is a critical gathering designed to address these disparities head-on by providing a safe and empowering space for Black moms to access a wide range of resources. From support groups that foster community and solidarity to connections with culturally competent OB-GYNs, midwives,...