Let’s focus on Black Women’s reproductive and birthing / postpartum experiences and related mental health. There is a vast disparity in birth experiences and access to care between black and white women, increasing the risk for maternal mental health concerns.
Black birthing mothers are exposed to structural racism, are less likely to be screened or receive support for maternal mental health concerns, have higher maternal depression and PTSD rates, and experience a higher birth trauma and maternal death rate in the U.S. compared to white women. Women of color report a disconnect with white medical providers, often feeling dismissed and are more likely to need to advocate for themselves.
Women of color experience disparities in fertility treatment due to structural racism, discrimination and the longstanding bias that focuses on the white fertility patient experience. There is a lack of diverse representation everywhere: from infertility research participants to clinicians and baby imagery in waiting rooms. People of color also experience challenges in finding racially diverse egg and sperm donors, or gestational surrogates when using third-party family building.
All maternal populations need to be treated equally and receive the same standard of respectful, empathic, collaborative and cultural humility-based care.
Get support: Women of color specific support resources can be helpful to find peer support and reduce isolation.
Black women’s mental health:
https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com
Also has podcasts on reproductive and maternal mental health concerns, including fertility, donor egg, perinatal and postpartum episodes at therapyforblackgirls.com/podcasts
Infertility support resources:
https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/
https://www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackwomenandinfertility/
https://www.endoblack.org/
https://www.sistersinloss.com
Instagram: @hannahsdaughters - Infertility and Miscarriage Support for Black Women
Perinatal / Postpartum support resources:
https://blackmamasmatter.org/
https://www.blackdoulas.org/
https://www.blackwomenbirthingjustice.com
https://www.kindredspacela.com/
UCSF: Embrace Black Care: https://embraceblackcare.org/
PSI Black Moms Connect Support Group
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/