Black Maternal Health Week: An OB-GYN Reveals Detrimental Misconceptions Regarding Maternal Mortality

As one of the few doctors who specializes in the gynecologic care of children and adolescents, I’ve found many parents are concerned about their child’s future fertility and childbearing. Regardless of their age, if they will one day be capable of pregnancy, the parents are already thinking about it. For my Black patients, this early consideration is often coupled with fear. And I understand why. Parents of Black menstruators have the unique challenge of trying to access period symptom treatment, contraception management, or sexual health guidance in a healthcare system that misdiagnoses, mistreats and dismisses Black women more than any other group of people. For generations, they’ve known they must show up twice as prepared and be three times as vocal to get half of the respect and compassion. They know that Black women are less likely to be believed when they report pain, and more likely to be offered sterilizing surgical options when they have bleeding. As they silently pray for the fulfillment of their children’s desires and dreams, they also understand a dream of motherhood comes with an elevated risk of danger and even death. It can be overwhelming. Truthfully, the matter of maternal mortality can overwhelm anyone....