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Narrowing the Gap of Black Premature Birth Rates Narrowing the Gap of Black Premature Birth Rates

By Mikhala Armstrong

ERIKA HAMILTON: I just wish people would tell the truth because when I had my miscarriage my water bag was there and it popped and it broke… and I was like so, is there a chance? and then the next day I go to the doctors, and I didn’t hear my babies’ heartbeat
MIKHALA ARMSTRONG: According to the CDC, about 1 in ten babies are born prematurely in the u-s. black women are twice as likely as white women to give birth prematurely. and black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from birth complications.
ARMSTRONG: there are women specially trained to help these expectant mothers. they are called doulas. many black mothers have not heard of them.
ARMSTRONG: Instead, they are left in the care of their doctor when many expecting black mothers distrust doctors.
this distrust stems from decades of cruel scientific experimentation on black people at the hands of white doctors.
ARMSTRONG: like the infamous 40-year Tuskegee syphilis study. which studied 600 black men in rural Alabama but didn’t tell them what they were doing or give them any treatment. and didn’t get their consent. research shows this experiment goes beyond those men but affects how black people feel about the medical system.
DEENA ELKAFRAWI: If it’s not the patient themselves that experienced a negative experience with the healthcare system, its someone they know, a relative, a loved one, and it just kind of spirals
ARMSTRONG: Dr. Elkafrawi of upstate medical hospital found the birth rate gap comes from neighborhood wealth, stress, access to prenatal care, and racism in the medical system. Elkafrawi is an expecting mother herself and says patients must speak up.
ELKAFRAWI: You have to be concerned when X, Y, Z happens, you have to go to the hospital regardless of what a nurse on the phone will tell you, or anybody really, if you’re feeling this way you have to really just go, you have to really tell patients to start advocating for themselves.
ARMSTRONG: The CDC says expecting mothers should talk to doctors if anything doesn’t feel right, document medical visits, and maintain healthcare and social support systems during and after pregnancy like a doula.
ARMSTRONG: Erika Hamilton’s journey to motherhood did not end after her miscarriage. she became pregnant again. doctors told her she had a high risk of delivering prematurely. she was determined to carry full term. she did. with the help of her doula, which she found here at Sankofa Healing Center.
LEEANDRA TORRANCE: You get pregnant, you do this, you go to the hospital, you have your baby, and that’s it… and it is so much more than that
ARMSTRONG: Leeandra Torrence, a doula at Sankofa Healing Center, does more for expectant mothers than deliver babies.
as a doula she supports mother’s before, during, and after the birthing process. mother’s in need are given diapers, baby clothes, bottles and wipes for free to help after delivery.
Torrance says doula’s build trust expecting mother’s need.
TORRANCE: Educating them on their rights and letting them know that they can say no to certain things, because a lot of women believe that they can’t or don’t have a voice when they’re in the hospital or things like that. We’re here to really give them a voice and educate, so they have that good birthing experience
ARMSTRONG: Hamilton did have a good birthing experience with a doula by her side to answer any questions.
she gave birth to her daughter Imani in July of 2017. natural and full term. just like she wanted. Hamilton says with the help of a doula, more success stories like hers can be possible for other black women…and it starts with word of mouth. For NCC news, I’m Mikhala Armstrong.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Nationally, nearly ten percent of babies are born prematurely. Unfortunately, this is more than just a statistic for the black community. This is becoming a death sentence.

Erika Hamilton is one of the millions of African American women who give birth all over the country and found out her journey to motherhood would not be easy when learning she was at a higher risk of delivering early than any other race.

Hamilton suffered a miscarriage after going to the doctors to find out there was no heartbeat from her child. Hamilton said, “I just wish people would tell the truth,” after learning the news. Hamilton was unaware of how this could have happened and did not feel prepared by her doctor. A feeling shared by many expecting black mothers.

According to the CDC, about one in ten babies are born prematurely in the United States. In addition, black women are twice as likely as white women to give birth prematurely and are three to four times more likely to die from birth complications.

There are women specially trained to help these mothers, called doulas. Doulas are an aid to support mothers before, during, and after the birthing process. At the Sankofa Healing Center in Syracuse, NY, doula’s provide mothers in need with diapers, baby clothes, and more to help after delivery.

Leeandra Torrance is a doula at Sankofa Healing Center and said their goal is to “give them a voice and educate, so they have that good birthing experience.”

Doulas are increasingly narrowing the gap of premature births in black women by supporting expectant mothers. Torrance said it is because they are “educating them on their rights and letting them know that they can say no to certain things because a lot of women believe that they can’t or don’t have a voice when they’re in the hospital.”

For those who don’t have a doula near, the CDC says to:

  • Talk to your doctor if anything doesn’t feel right
  • Document Medical visits
  • Maintain Healthcare and Social Support Systems during and after pregnancy

Hamilton did have a good birthing experience with the help of a doula when she became pregnant again and gave birth to her daughter Imani in 2017.  Doctors advised Hamilton she would not be able to deliver full-term, and she was at high risk. With the help of her doula by her side, she delivered natural and full term.

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