Health, wellness come into focus during Black Maternal Awareness Week

This is Black Maternal Awareness Week, a time to make sure moms of color thrive after giving birth. BUFFALO, N.Y. — Black Maternal Awareness Week runs from April 11-18. This year,  Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network is focusing on black maternal mental health. Experts said this week is to make sure moms of color thrive after giving birth.  Dr. Pamela Reed of the Jacobs School of Medicine is involved in a study on the issue. “Why do I, as a woman of color, feel that this is so important to get other women of color or birthing persons of color to participate is because we don’t get a chance to do things like this. Research usually excludes us as target populations for study,” Dr. Reed said. Luanne Brown, president of BPPN, SAID “40% of black women experience mental health issues, which is twice the rate of all women, which aligns with our maternal mortality numbers as. 14% of women have new episodes during pregnancy and 14% of women developed three months after birth.” Brown highlighted things that must be addressed. “We have to have support in the community,” Brown said. “Once they leave the hospital, they have to do that. We...