February is Black History Month in the United States. This is an annual celebration of the achievements of Black individuals.   As professionals, we have a responsibility to be knowledgable about Black perinatal organizations that are led by amazing Black maternal-infant health professionals.  We need to identify both local and national, that are uniquely qualified serve Black expectant families.  While a white childbirth educator can provide comprehensive childbirth education to Black participants, the opportunity to learn about pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period in the company of other Black families and have the information facilitated by a Black perinatal educator is magical indeed.  That includes having the choice of selecting other Black perinatal professionals to support them.

A 2020 study, “Physician-patient racial concordance and disparities in birthing mortality for newborns” (Greenwood, et. al., 2020) found that “newborn–physician racial concordance is associated with a significant improvement in mortality for Black infants. Results further suggest that these benefits manifest during more challenging births and in hospitals that deliver more Black babies.”

When Black expectant families have access to perinatal education, lactation consultant services and doula services from Black professionals, in addition to Black medical providers (doctors and midwives) there is the potential for better outcomes all around.

One thing that you can do to ensure that pregnant Black people can access Black perinatal professionals is to identify these resources on your website.  Provide links and contact information so that Black families who want, can find education and resources provided by a Black perinatal profession.  Having local and national resources will let people find the right fit for the services that they need.

Here are some amazing Black perinatal organizations that are uniquely qualified to train Black perinatal professionals and serve Black families.  This list is just a small compilation of resources, and identifies those organizations with a national presence.  One of your tasks is to identify similar groups that are local to your community, so you can include that information as well and make it easier for Black families to identify the right resources for them.

A great guide published by The New York Times: Protecting Your Birth: A Guide for Black Mothers should be included on everyone’s list

Black Perinatal and Medical Organizations

National Black Doulas Association

National Association to Advance Black Birth

Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association

National Black Midwives Alliance

Association of Black Women Physicians

The National Birth Equity Collaborative

Sista Midwife Productions and the Sister Midwife Director

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Mama Glow

Black Women’s Health Imperative

Commonsense Childbirth

Sister Song

Uzazi Village

Health Connect One

Black Women Do Breastfeed

A Challenge

In honor of Black History Month, can you commit to adding information on your organization’s website so that Black people who are growing their families can find and access Black medical providers and perinatal professionals to serve them if that is their desire?  Now is the time.  Lives depend upon it.

Do you have any other organizations that you would add to this list on the national level?  Drop the links in the comments below.

References

Greenwood, B. N., Hardeman, R. R., Huang, L., & Sojourner, A. (2020). Physician–patient racial concordance and disparities in birthing mortality for newborns. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(35), 21194-21200.

Published: February 02, 2021

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