Black Maternal Health Week focuses on making health care more accessible and preventing pregnancy-related deaths

WORKS. NEW THIS MORNING, MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PREVENTING PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS. THOSE ARE THE GOALS OF BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK, WHICH RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THESE PEOPLE FACE. STAR CONNOR EXPLAINS WHY THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES EXIST. I’M NOT TRYING TO GET EMOTIONAL. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND I’M SORRY IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD. SKYLER KIRKWOOD SAYS SHE’S ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MOTHER, AND TAKING ONE LOOK AT HER SON, FOUR MONTH OLD MALCOLM, JEREMIAH BRINGS A SMILE TO HER FACE EVERY TIME. WHENEVER I’M WITH HIM, UM, HE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER. EVEN IF I’M NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY. UM, HE LIFTS MY SPIRITS AND MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. KIRKWOOD SAYS DAILY CHALLENGES INCLUDE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL. IT’S JUST LIKE YOUR WHOLE BRAIN CHEMISTRY CHANGES, YOU KNOW? AND YOU’RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY THAT YOU’VE CREATED. BUT THEN IT’S ALSO JUST A LOT OF MENTAL TOLL ON YOU. SHE SAYS JOINING NOVANT HEALTH FREE POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP HAS HELPED. NEW MOTHERHOOD CAN BE VERY ISOLATING. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF THEY’RE NOT ALSO PARENTS, IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL THERE’S...