Black Mothers Matter: Non profit supporting black women during pregnancy

[ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings]

Hey, I've just seen this in another group and thought it would be good to share it here. It's called Black Mothers Matter and their main project atm seems to be providing free gift hampers to help black women during their pregnancies. They're looking for donations if anyone's looking for a cause to support.

www.blackmothersmatter.org

Something very broken in our maternity care in this country.

[quote WarriorN]Thank you for this. Another worthy cause.

This was the discussion about it on WH a couple of years ago

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006sg5[/quote]
Thank you! - That allowed me to retrieve this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3642813-Womans-Hour-Black-women-are-5x-more-likely-to-die-in-childbirth-than-white-women

Thank you for sharing this website,
ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings.

The annual MBRRACE uk report is a shocker each time a new one is published. I know one was published after a long delay, I think in my more cynical moments it was to try and make us all go away and not ask awkward questions iyswim.
Black mothers matter.

That's a great initiative. Thanks for letting us know OP.

@Beowulfa

The BAME maternity stats are a national scandal. I genuinely don't understand why this isn't getting more attention. Does Marcus Rashford need to tweet about it?

Agreed. Yet the NHS spends countless ££££ renaming women's maternity and eradicating women's language while this scandal continues. What are they thinking?

Thank you for this. I've seen it on BOE on FB also.

This is something that personally resonates with me. I suffered 2 horrific labours and births, one of which resulted in a birth injury to DC2.

Part way through Labour with DC2 I learnt black women, asian women and white women have different shaped pelvis's which impacts birth (obviously). I believe this is what caused face presentation birth and DC2 facial injury.

There really needs to be more research into this as I'd bet my bottom dollar this contributes to these appalling stats.

Thanks for sharing. Have donated.

Interesting article here www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/health/birth-canals-evolution.html

Thanks for posting this. Have donated.

There really needs to be more research into this as I'd bet my bottom dollar this contributes to these appalling stats.

Agreed, as ever, I'd expect it to be multi-factorial. The Iolanthe Trust event had a good discussion of contributory factors (videos don't play on that site so need to be watched on YT):

www.iolanthe.org/latest/action-reduce-mortality-black-women-and-babies

Wow plum I didn't know that either, thanks for sharing that article. So sorry for your experiences.

Thank you Embarrassing for that link. The conference was enlightening, lots of experience and stories from black midwives. And yes they highlighted that's this issue is multi faceted.

I'm pretty sure I heard a discussion on Woman's Hour recently which mentioned an initiative in place in the NHS to address the causes of these outcomes and statistics. Can't remember when exactly but I would guess it was maybe within the last four weeks or so.

I'm wondering if this thread should be pinned? It's not high traffic (everyone agrees with it - people write more when they're ranting) but it's a really worthwhile initiative. I'd hate to see it slip down the board.

I'll donate.

It's a drop in the ocean, but it's something I can do.

@TartrazineCustard

I'm wondering if this thread should be pinned? It's not high traffic (everyone agrees with it - people write more when they're ranting) but it's a really worthwhile initiative. I'd hate to see it slip down the board.

That sounds like a good idea.

Oh well done Embarrassing!

I agree this should be a sticky thread, perhaps also on the pregnancy and infant feeding board.

A very important issue with shocking statistics. Thanks for the link

Goodness that NY Times article is an eye-opener. Why is this not known generally? Surely it should be fundamental information for anyone involved in gynaecology or midwifery?

Thank you plum. I hope your DC2 made a full recovery.

Differences in shape of birth canals, is this common knowledge amongst midwives and doctors and are different birthing techniques taught?

@334bu &@CatChant I'm not sure if this is well known in obstetrics and midwifery in general, it was a lovely midwife who told me during my labour with DC2. She was an older MW with a lot of experience I imagine. No other health professional in either pregnancy has ever mentioned it.

And no DC2 hasn't recovered. Will need an operation at some point to treat the injury.

Thanks for sharing. What a great idea 😊

Hope all goes well with op.

I am at those statistics. How on earth are we getting this so wrong?? Thanks for highlighting this OP. I hope your post helps them make their £10000 target as well as raising awareness.

I am so sorry @plumpuddisnice. Wishing you and your DC2 all the best with the operation.

That article particularly interested me because my first child was a face presentation and ended up being delivered by emergency CS, by which time her poor face was horribly battered.

Up until this thread I'd always thought it was just bad luck. Perhaps it wasn't.