7th Annual Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17)

It’s the 7^th annual Black Maternal Health Week April 11-17.

Founded by BMMA, Black Maternal Health Week is a week of awareness, activism, and community-building aimed at amplifying the voices of Black Mamas, bringing visibility to Black-led maternal health initiatives, and centering the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.

Did you know?

• In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women. (Source: CDC).
• In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. CDC notes that more than 80% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable. (Source: CDC)
• Approximately one in four women must return to work within 10-14 days after giving birth (Source: NIH). The lack of paid leave significantly impacts the ability to bond with one’s infant, heal from the birthing experience, and provide human milk.
• Infants in rural areas are less likely to ever breastfeed than infants living in urban areas. (Source: CDC)
• Younger mothers aged 20 to 29 years are less likely to ever breastfeed (78.6%) than mothers aged 30 years or older (85.7%). (Source: CDC)
• Differences can be observed in how common depressive symptoms are right after giving birth. One study found that Black women were two times more likely to report suicidal ideation in the immediate postpartum period, in comparison to their White counterparts in the study. Identifying suicidal ideation through screening and supporting mothers and birthing people for suicidal ideation in the immediate postpartum period can potentially reduce maternal deaths.
• In the United States, 29–44% of Black women experience postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS), yet few are properly identified and/or connected to mental care services. (Source: NIH)

For more information on how Black Maternal Health Week visit: BLACKMAMASMATTER.ORG/BMHW