Other African American Expecting Moms

[Anonymous]

This is purely anecdotal but my cousin and I both had a life threatening pregnancy condition. Me in the UK and she in the US. We are both black.
In England, as soon as it was discovered during my 20 wk monitoring visit, I wasn’t even allowed to leave the hospital to get my overnight things. I stayed in hospital for 3 months and was monitored EVERY 15 MINUTES without fail with daily blood test as this is a condition that can escalate suddenly and kill you.
I was taken to the labour ward if monitoring showed something worrisome and there was the risk that they would have to deliver the baby to save me. They would make every attempt to stabilize me in the labour ward and return me to my room once I was stable. This happened at least 3 times a week.
My cousin was in the US with the same condition and was sent home and told to monitor herself at home and call an ambulance if she got a worrisome result. She got a worrisome result and called an ambulance and then her OB. She died while on the phone to her OB. She would never have been allowed home in England with that condition. This was a smart upper middle class young lady with a PhD. She was well versed in her condition but the dr would not admit her Even though she pleaded with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is purely anecdotal but my cousin and I both had a life threatening pregnancy condition. Me in the UK and she in the US. We are both black.
In England, as soon as it was discovered during my 20 wk monitoring visit, I wasn’t even allowed to leave the hospital to get my overnight things. I stayed in hospital for 3 months and was monitored EVERY 15 MINUTES without fail with daily blood test as this is a condition that can escalate suddenly and kill you.
I was taken to the labour ward if monitoring showed something worrisome and there was the risk that they would have to deliver the baby to save me. They would make every attempt to stabilize me in the labour ward and return me to my room once I was stable. This happened at least 3 times a week.
My cousin was in the US with the same condition and was sent home and told to monitor herself at home and call an ambulance if she got a worrisome result. She got a worrisome result and called an ambulance and then her OB. She died while on the phone to her OB. She would never have been allowed home in England with that condition. This was a smart upper middle class young lady with a PhD. She was well versed in her condition but the dr would not admit her Even though she pleaded with her.

OMG. I am so so sorry PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is purely anecdotal but my cousin and I both had a life threatening pregnancy condition. Me in the UK and she in the US. We are both black.
In England, as soon as it was discovered during my 20 wk monitoring visit, I wasn’t even allowed to leave the hospital to get my overnight things. I stayed in hospital for 3 months and was monitored EVERY 15 MINUTES without fail with daily blood test as this is a condition that can escalate suddenly and kill you.
I was taken to the labour ward if monitoring showed something worrisome and there was the risk that they would have to deliver the baby to save me. They would make every attempt to stabilize me in the labour ward and return me to my room once I was stable. This happened at least 3 times a week.
My cousin was in the US with the same condition and was sent home and told to monitor herself at home and call an ambulance if she got a worrisome result. She got a worrisome result and called an ambulance and then her OB. She died while on the phone to her OB. She would never have been allowed home in England with that condition. This was a smart upper middle class young lady with a PhD. She was well versed in her condition but the dr would not admit her Even though she pleaded with her.

PP, that is terrible. I'm so sorry for your family's loss. It shouldn't have happened.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm white and can't offer you any resources, but did want to wish you good luck and say your fears are legitimate. Can you hire a doula to be a voice for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

I’ll try to be nice s I try to articulate my point. Try not to see the world in black and white. No such thing as not being listened to because you are black. There are all kinds of personalities at the hospital and in life regardless of race. I am black but a first generation black and I think AA do themselves a disadvantage by always looking at the world this way. I’m not saying there aren’t ignorant people out there but at the same time that’s just people regardless of race.

PP: you really need to read up on this phenomenon. It is well-documented for several health conditions, but particularly childbirth. Which is why there is still a high mortality rate for middle class AA moms and babies.
—Different poster and AA mom.

OP, bring an advocate other than DH. This person’s job is to question/verify and document.

+1
I make this recommendation for all my pregnant friends, just because I think having a third party whose job it is to pay attention to the process and watch out for both mom and dad is extremely important. They need to understand your wishes and also understand the potential health challenges unique to AA women. While a doula would be nice, I also think a dedicated friend could serve this role also.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would interview at least 3-5 obstetricians; ask very probing questions and go with the one who is well informed, equally concerned about the issue, and able and willing to advocate for you (someone assertive and respected, and someone who will likely be on call when you go into labor). I would also hire an experienced doula and bring your husband as well.

I would ask around the communities you belong to for experiences and recommendations of OBs and hospitals.

Remain vigilant throughout your pregnancy, and indeed, read up on the specific risks and outcomes so you can be as informed as possible. (Diabetes complications, preeclampsia, infection/sepsis, and blood loss are four main ones that come to mind.) Once in the hospital, if you feel anything is off, DO NOT hesitate to assert yourself. I’ve had a few (white) friends be sent home with raging infections, and one developed high blood pressure during labor that was not adequately treated. All three almost died and they did not know at the time how close they were.

I have access to medical journals at work and second guess my GW OBs all the time with evidence. It drives some of them nuts but I know I get better care.

Finally, share your experience once you’re in the other side as I’m sure you’re not alone.

In terms of recommendations, if I were you, I would try to get an appointment with Dr. Macri at GWU, and ask him for recommendations of OBs, both at GWU and elsewhere. He is absolutely top notch and a concerned global citizen. Could not recommend him highly enough, though he may be difficult to get in to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

I’ll try to be nice s I try to articulate my point. Try not to see the world in black and white. No such thing as not being listened to because you are black. There are all kinds of personalities at the hospital and in life regardless of race. I am black but a first generation black and I think AA do themselves a disadvantage by always looking at the world this way. I’m not saying there aren’t ignorant people out there but at the same time that’s just people regardless of race.

PP: you really need to read up on this phenomenon. It is well-documented for several health conditions, but particularly childbirth. Which is why there is still a high mortality rate for middle class AA moms and babies.
—Different poster and AA mom.

OP, bring an advocate other than DH. This person’s job is to question/verify and document.

+1
I make this recommendation for all my pregnant friends, just because I think having a third party whose job it is to pay attention to the process and watch out for both mom and dad is extremely important. They need to understand your wishes and also understand the potential health challenges unique to AA women. While a doula would be nice, I also think a dedicated friend could serve this role also.

I don’t think the health challenges are that unique, it’s the racism. Let’s just call it what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

I’ll try to be nice s I try to articulate my point. Try not to see the world in black and white. No such thing as not being listened to because you are black. There are all kinds of personalities at the hospital and in life regardless of race. I am black but a first generation black and I think AA do themselves a disadvantage by always looking at the world this way. I’m not saying there aren’t ignorant people out there but at the same time that’s just people regardless of race.

This level of ignorance is astounding.

[Anonymous]

Finding a great OB doesn’t mean crap when delivering at a big practice. That’s where the rubber meets the road and you basically roll the dice for whatever OB you get. I hired a doula and she was a waste of money, I would bring a trusted family member (mother, sister, aunt, MIL) who has been through birth before and knows how to respectfully advocate and ask questions and be pushy if needed. There are some great black female OBs in DC and if you deliver at GW Or WHC a lot of their L and D nurses are black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

I’ll try to be nice s I try to articulate my point. Try not to see the world in black and white. No such thing as not being listened to because you are black. There are all kinds of personalities at the hospital and in life regardless of race. I am black but a first generation black and I think AA do themselves a disadvantage by always looking at the world this way. I’m not saying there aren’t ignorant people out there but at the same time that’s just people regardless of race.

PP: you really need to read up on this phenomenon. It is well-documented for several health conditions, but particularly childbirth. Which is why there is still a high mortality rate for middle class AA moms and babies.
—Different poster and AA mom.

OP, bring an advocate other than DH. This person’s job is to question/verify and document.

+1
I make this recommendation for all my pregnant friends, just because I think having a third party whose job it is to pay attention to the process and watch out for both mom and dad is extremely important. They need to understand your wishes and also understand the potential health challenges unique to AA women. While a doula would be nice, I also think a dedicated friend could serve this role also.

I don’t think the health challenges are that unique, it’s the racism. Let’s just call it what it is.

Yep. Research hints at this. But of course white folks dont want to hear it.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

I’ll try to be nice s I try to articulate my point. Try not to see the world in black and white. No such thing as not being listened to because you are black. There are all kinds of personalities at the hospital and in life regardless of race. I am black but a first generation black and I think AA do themselves a disadvantage by always looking at the world this way. I’m not saying there aren’t ignorant people out there but at the same time that’s just people regardless of race.

PP: you really need to read up on this phenomenon. It is well-documented for several health conditions, but particularly childbirth. Which is why there is still a high mortality rate for middle class AA moms and babies.
—Different poster and AA mom.

OP, bring an advocate other than DH. This person’s job is to question/verify and document.

+1
I make this recommendation for all my pregnant friends, just because I think having a third party whose job it is to pay attention to the process and watch out for both mom and dad is extremely important. They need to understand your wishes and also understand the potential health challenges unique to AA women. While a doula would be nice, I also think a dedicated friend could serve this role also.

I don’t think the health challenges are that unique, it’s the racism. Let’s just call it what it is.

Yep. Research hints at this. But of course white folks dont want to hear it.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/

[Anonymous]

Haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there - I'm a 33 Black mom to be and worried about delivery. I know the basics but I keep reading about Black women not being listened to in the hospital and our pain not being taken seriously.

Has anyone been through this? What happened? How did you handle?

Scared in DC

Simply ash DH to help.

We all go through the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m white and had the same problem.

Brave soul.

The crazies will eat you for pointing out the obvious.

[Anonymous]

White woman here, just dropping in to gather up my clueless white sisters who "had the same problem."

No, you didn't. Please read this pro publica article about how the maternal mortality rate is much high for aa women: https://www.propublica.org/article/nothing-protects-black-women-from-dying-in-pregnancy-and-childbirth.

Yes, it is a big problem that women in general are not listened to by health care providers, but this problem is even bigger for AA women and they die at a higher rate because of it. The OP is right to be concerned. Good luck OP.

I'll see myself out.