Novant Health holds event to address Black maternal health, mortality

NCDHHS said Black women are almost twice as likely to experience maternal mortality. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — For more than 20 years these two zip codes 27101 and 27105 in Winston Salem have had the highest rate of infant mortality. On Wednesday two agencies stepped up to improve birth outcomes for expecting mothers in these areas.  Expecting mothers were given a sash and treated like royalty at Novant Health’s and Boston Thurmond United’s community baby shower. “It’s for moms to gain access to resources,” said Katherine Caster with Novant Health. “To learn about options for care for their children. For prenatal care, for postpartum care and for moms to feel cared for.”  Caster said oftentimes expecting mothers in Winston-Salem’s black communities aren’t aware of available resources. It has led to high mortality rates in mothers or unfavorable pregnancies and birthing experiences. Lakeisha Terry said that was her experience because no one told her better care was available.  “I felt like nobody would understand what I went through. When I had my children I had something called hyperemesis,” Terry said. “It’s where you are sick often you vomit a lot. I was also going back and forth to the emergency room because...