If You are a Pregnant Black Woman, because of Climate extreme weather and lack of medical access you are Ten Times More Likely to Die During Childbirth If You Live in Mississippi! If You Are BIPOC, You Are Seven Times More Likely! UNLESS...
Climate change has been a growing concern in Mississippi, and its effects on pregnant women cannot be overlooked. Increasing temperatures and longer heatwaves pose significant risks to expectant mothers. High heat levels can lead to dehydration, which can be detrimental to both the mother and the baby's health. Heatwaves may also increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Additionally, extreme weather events associated with climate change, such as hurricanes and flooding, can disrupt prenatal care and increase stress levels for pregnant women. Addressing climate change and implementing measures to mitigate its impact are vital to protect the health and well-being of pregnant women in Mississippi.
A new report from the ACLU of Mississippi says the state has one of the worst maternal health care infrastructures in a developed country, citing record-high maternal and infant mortality rates, inadequate Medicaid coverage, abortion bans and a large number of people being in poverty.The intersection of climate change and pregnancy in Mississippi brings forth a range of challenges. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns take a toll on expectant mothers. The intense heatwaves prevalent in the region have adverse effects on maternal health. Dehydration becomes a perpetual concern due to soaring temperatures, putting both the mother and the baby at risk. Moreover, extreme climate events like hurricanes hinder access to necessary prenatal care, compromising the well-being of pregnant women. As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, urgent efforts are needed to minimize its effect on the health and safety of pregnant women and their unborn children in Mississippi.
Since 2019 Alabama was the second-worst state for having a baby and Mississippi was the worst. "Alabama ranked last because it has a high average health insurance premium, as well as high costs...Mississippi because it has little access to healthcare, hospitals and especially prenatal care. Many black expectant mothers contract the services of traditional spiritual and cultural medical caregivers. Black mothers in Mississippi, especially those on Medicare seeking community-based supports in the form of Baby Cafés, doulas, and midwives, more often than not seek culturally competent and certified midwives or Doulas.
Doulas help you change the way you view birth so that your birthing experience can be an empowering and unforgettable moment” Keyah Williams "We support breastfeeding women by letting them know that this is an open space and you are welcome. " Before the 1930’s women typically gave birth at home surrounded by relatives, female friends, and midwives.
These attendants were responsible not only for supporting the mother emotionally through the pain of labor, but also for preparing necessary tools and supplies, ensuring general hygiene, administering medicine, and monitoring both the woman and child long before and after birth. In more recent instances, midwives can also be accompanied by Doulas, who focused on the needs of the mother by offering mental, physical, and emotional support. These birth workers traditionally occupied a prominent position in African American communities, serving as healers and spiritual leaders, and maintaining extensive social networks." (National Museum Afro American History).
Midwives often faced competition and exclusion from their practice by physicians who sought to exclude them from the profession. However, many midwives like Mary Francis Hill Coley, a midwife in Albany, Georgia, who had delivered over 3,000 babies, utilized the tools and training of the mostly white medical establishment to care for her most at-risk patients. In the 1953 documentary, “All My Babies,” Coley demonstrated how a well-trained lay midwife could deliver healthy babies even in the poorest conditions while acting as an intermediary between patients, nurses, physicians, and members of the local community.
The National Doula Certification Board is the regulatory agency that sets the standard for the professional practice, training, and learning outcomes of the doula profession. The National Black Doulas Association is equipping Black and BIPOC birth workers and families to combat the alarming rates of black maternal mortality and morbidity, through comprehensive directory and elite trainings they are the largest organization of its type and supported by Morehouse School of Medicine!