My cousin almost died at 15 when she was pressured into keeping her pregnancy. She was mistreated because of the color of her skin and her age. I pass as white and I can see the disparity in medicine.
My last pregnancy was horrible. I was forced to have a natural birth because the anesthesiologist wasn’t called in time. The nurses were very insensitive and seemed annoyed by me saying I was in pain.
It is very sad, and also somewhat strange to hear about the US situation. In Germany, it is mandated by law that every birth must be attended by a midwife, no matter where that birth takes place. Yes, our system has a lot of flaws, especially because of staff shortages. But still, at least we try.
Something is definitely fishy going on.when I went into labor ,I was put in my room,got hooked up to everything.after that, everything just seemed so calculated. The nurses wasn't really supportive ,just in/out monitoring .got intense ,so of course they jumped up when I said yes to the epidural while throwing up &crying . Left for very long time,basically sending me off to the next shift as they please.doc come in said my son heart rate went up ,emergency c-section ,they say,like yall wasnt even tryingto get me prepared to push in any way at the time being so how all of a sudden this.just so dismissive and disregard attitude of childbirth like it a drive thru.goes to the c-section, and yall while I'm open, someone phn go off.i kinda felt disrespected.i go along have him.go home got an infection .came back doc gave me a medicated string to put inside the wound to close it. he told me f i need more ,I can get this medical string at the drugstore. And I did not but any until I ran out yes big mistake .but I was still open.called the nurse and told me I can stuff it with gauze lol I'm like ok really.
It really is so unfortunate to be in such a vulnerable time and feeling like you aren’t a priority. I’m sorry you experienced that. Are your children all grown up now?
So as a black OBGYN I didn’t realize how rare I am and how I matter to that black female especially in OB care. As I got further into my field I have experienced the backend of what our industrialized healthcare system does to marginalize many patients and I hated being part of the system when ai want to see changes like: 1: on 1 care Trauma informed care Bedside manner improvement on all levels of the team caring for women Birthing options and plans and rights discussed and safe choices of patients taken into account Improved discharge planning and postpartum care because this is where women have highest risk of dying Promotion of lactation Force insurance companies to continue to provide postpartum coverage after 6 weeks … maybe for 1 year since that mom is still at right till 365 days after delivery date Osteopathic medicine incorporated in prenatal care and postpartum care for bonding, improvement of C section rate and increase follow up care and improve doctor: patient relationships
We are hoping that as midwifery comes to the forefront of birthing care, there will be more training and more resources but I personally loved my midwife and she went to an Ivy League school. - Sheena Williams
@@pbsvitalswe dont have birthing centers. We give birth at the hospital or we can give birth at home. C section is not very much used except for certain reasons. We can choose many ways to give birth like water birth, on your knees etc. Whatever makes you feel safe and comfertable. The midwifes are very caring and knowledable.
These birth stories and my own birth stories are the reason why I became a postpartum doula. We need someone to look out for us and our families during this very vulnerable time of our lives. What is supposed to be exciting and joyful can turn tragic, and the deaths or near death experiences are preventable. More conversations like these need to take place on a regular basis along with real work to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates here in America! Thanks so much for this video 🤎
Thank you so much to both of you for sharing your stories. As a current medical student, one of the pieces of information you shared that is so important is the language we use about patients. Not only what terms we use to describe a patient to another provider but also how we describe the patient in our progress notes. I think it is important to practice recognizing our own implicit bias when we use specific terms like “noncompliant” or “drug seeking” and reflect on the patients we use them for. However, this is an easy way to call someone else out on their implicit bias. Even just questioning them, asking, “what makes you say that about that patient?” One of the other points you made that stood out to me was what options you give different patients for their care. Unfortunately, in both stories, neither of you was given a choice in your care. One of you was told you had to undergo a c-section, while the other was given no choice on what care your son should receive. Meanwhile, the ethical principle of justice is about providing equity and fairness in treatment. How can we make providers aware of unequal treatment? One idea I had is if you notice it, ask why you recommend this care for x patient but this for y patient. This question could at least help start a dialogue, but I am open to any other suggestions people have. Thanks again to both of you for sharing your stories. I thought this video helped expand my knowledge of maternal mortality for Black women in the US. While there is also a need for changes on a systemic level, this is helpful in how I can make changes on a smaller scale.
Thank you so much for talking about this. I’ve tried to educate myself on this as much as possible in order to not be part of the problem and I definitely learned some things from this video
This discussion on maternal mortality in the United States sheds light on the injustice that affects women of color. They have a three fold higher rate of maternal mortality. This is a striking failure of our healthcare system that is unacceptable and has many unethical components within it. This is a violation of nonmaleficence and justice, two components a physician vows to uphold. One issue that is mentioned about the hospital system caring for pregnant moms is that they aren’t receiving undivided attention from a healthcare professional which has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Hospitals are more concerned about efficiency than taking care of moms because they are ultimately profit driven. The system isn’t allowing nurses and physicians to be there for their patients throughout the entire pregnancy. There are countless stories from black women illustrating how they weren’t taken seriously during complaints, and didn’t have the attention they needed. I think we need to reevaluate our healthcare system as a whole and change the expectations of caring for pregnancy and labor. More undivided attention needs to be provided, paid for, and encouraged, in order to reduce harm. There must be more discussion on these appalling facts. Everyone on the healthcare team needs to be watching out for biases and speaking up when there are injustices occurring. We must address these inequalities in maternal mortality for black women and start by talking about it and addressing it more freely. There also needs to be more attention paid to postpartum care, and giving access to care, especially to those who cannot afford it. Pregnancy is a very natural process that has become so industrialized. It seems like our healthcare system has lost sight of the human body's capabilities in childbirth and that c-sections are being done to reduce hospital risk. By doing this we are causing unnecessary stress on moms and babies, and ultimately harm, and racial disparities.
It breaks my heart that moms are experiencing these types of disparities and mistreatment. I'm thankful that as a black women I have never experienced such. The staff was always kind and supportive with all of my pregnancies and deliveries. It is very important that this issue is being addressed, and I hope to see change in the near future.
Some of it could be an insurance thing I did pre-certification for an Obgyn office and Cesarean pays more because it’s an actual procedure vs the traditional way to deliver.
And nothing about improving family life (yes, black fathers matter in this discussion) to improve resources and create a environment where you normalize relationships with doctors. So, I agree with the subject of the video but that's big part of being able to afford better health care.
Hi! Thanks for the video! Though you didn't mention some things I'd have liked to have seen: You showed data that supports the idea the maternal mortality situation is worse for black mothers, but you didn't mention any data suggesting the cause of such thing. I don't want to take away the merit of the important racism issues you touched, which could be some, if not all, of the causes of such problems. But the video is less persuasive when you only talk about issues mothers encounter without making a case, say, with data, for those issues being the cause of the maternal mortality disparity.
This video was about our personal perspectives as black moms. In this video, we wanted to highlight that when socioeconomic and educational factors are not a factor, black moms are still at risk. Data can be dismissive of the individual experience but we wanted provide personal insight to the disparity. - Sheena Williams, RN
The video is not a university course including detailed biostatistics, case studies, and conclusions. The point of the video is to make people aware of the horrifying disparities in healthcare and outcomes, including maternal deaths, for black women. The video is informative and persuasive, unlike your "advice" that is laughable and unnecessary. Looking forward to your highly detailed video on a potentially deadly health concern that viewers may or may not find persuasive. LOL
You make this statement as if people of other races are all healthy. White people statistically are quite close to black people in percentage of obesity(regarding adults).
@@hi.goodbye2167Honestly it's really not even that. The highest maternal mortality rate in the world is in sub saharan Africa. Which black ppl are looking over other black people. This could be something genetic because other countries with similar states of economy don't have this issue.
RETIRED RN HERE. NURSING SCHOOL DID NOT TEACH US ABOUT THE "OTHER SIDE" OF VACCINES. BUT YOU MUST BE AWARE...FOR YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND FOR YOU TO INSTRUCT YOUR PATIENTS. BECOME VACCINE AWARE.
As if pregnancy and labor isn't difficult enough already. This is such a frustrating and terrifying issue 😢
Every woman is different
My cousin almost died at 15 when she was pressured into keeping her pregnancy. She was mistreated because of the color of her skin and her age. I pass as white and I can see the disparity in medicine.
Thanks for sharing your experience. - Sheena Williams, RN
@mericanmodi8479 She was almost forced to marry the 20 something year old man who gave it to her.
@mericanmodi8479 She was stolen away from her loving family after a false CPS accusation.
She still could get pregnant even being raised right … it’s a personal choice
So very sorry for this loss. It's just wrong.
Infuriating, but info that is necessary to hear. Thank you for getting the word out.
Thanks so much for the support and relating to our personal experiences. - Sheena Williams, RN
Thank you so much for highlighting this. I'm horrified and heartbroken every time I hear one of these stories.
Thanks for watching and listening! - Sheena Williams, RN
My last pregnancy was horrible. I was forced to have a natural birth because the anesthesiologist wasn’t called in time. The nurses were very insensitive and seemed annoyed by me saying I was in pain.
We need more black women in the medical field
It is very sad, and also somewhat strange to hear about the US situation. In Germany, it is mandated by law that every birth must be attended by a midwife, no matter where that birth takes place. Yes, our system has a lot of flaws, especially because of staff shortages. But still, at least we try.
Something is definitely fishy going on.when I went into labor ,I was put in my room,got hooked up to everything.after that, everything just seemed so calculated. The nurses wasn't really supportive ,just in/out monitoring .got intense ,so of course they jumped up when I said yes to the epidural while throwing up &crying . Left for very long time,basically sending me off to the next shift as they please.doc come in said my son heart rate went up ,emergency c-section ,they say,like yall wasnt even tryingto get me prepared to push in any way at the time being so how all of a sudden this.just so dismissive and disregard attitude of childbirth like it a drive thru.goes to the c-section, and yall while I'm open, someone phn go off.i kinda felt disrespected.i go along have him.go home got an infection .came back doc gave me a medicated string to put inside the wound to close it. he told me f i need more ,I can get this medical string at the drugstore. And I did not but any until I ran out yes big mistake .but I was still open.called the nurse and told me I can stuff it with gauze lol I'm like ok really.
It really is so unfortunate to be in such a vulnerable time and feeling like you aren’t a priority. I’m sorry you experienced that. Are your children all grown up now?
Thank you for your kind words. I have a preschooler now ❤
I did not like my experience in the delivery room for both my kids. If I had the money I would have hired a midwife with my second child
What did you not like about experience, specifically? What would you have changed? - Sheena Williams, RN
So as a black OBGYN I didn’t realize how rare I am and how I matter to that black female especially in OB care. As I got further into my field I have experienced the backend of what our industrialized healthcare system does to marginalize many patients and I hated being part of the system when ai want to see changes like:
1: on 1 care
Trauma informed care
Bedside manner improvement on all levels of the team caring for women
Birthing options and plans and rights discussed and safe choices of patients taken into account
Improved discharge planning and postpartum care because this is where women have highest risk of dying
Promotion of lactation
Force insurance companies to continue to provide postpartum coverage after 6 weeks … maybe for 1 year since that mom is still at right till 365 days after delivery date
Osteopathic medicine incorporated in prenatal care and postpartum care for bonding, improvement of C section rate and increase follow up care and improve doctor: patient relationships
You have to look at how other countries train and license non-nurse midwives. In the US, they are very undertrained and sometimes dangerously so.
We are hoping that as midwifery comes to the forefront of birthing care, there will be more training and more resources but I personally loved my midwife and she went to an Ivy League school. - Sheena Williams
@@pbsvitalsif this true why people still getting pregnant still why not stop this having children is not for everyone
We use midwifes in Norway. A doctor is only needed if there is some complications.
Really interesting! Is it more common to give birth at home, or in a dedicated birthing center?
@@pbsvitalswe dont have birthing centers. We give birth at the hospital or we can give birth at home. C section is not very much used except for certain reasons. We can choose many ways to give birth like water birth, on your knees etc. Whatever makes you feel safe and comfertable. The midwifes are very caring and knowledable.
These birth stories and my own birth stories are the reason why I became a postpartum doula. We need someone to look out for us and our families during this very vulnerable time of our lives. What is supposed to be exciting and joyful can turn tragic, and the deaths or near death experiences are preventable. More conversations like these need to take place on a regular basis along with real work to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates here in America! Thanks so much for this video 🤎
Thank you so much to both of you for sharing your stories. As a current medical student, one of the pieces of information you shared that is so important is the language we use about patients. Not only what terms we use to describe a patient to another provider but also how we describe the patient in our progress notes. I think it is important to practice recognizing our own implicit bias when we use specific terms like “noncompliant” or “drug seeking” and reflect on the patients we use them for. However, this is an easy way to call someone else out on their implicit bias. Even just questioning them, asking, “what makes you say that about that patient?”
One of the other points you made that stood out to me was what options you give different patients for their care. Unfortunately, in both stories, neither of you was given a choice in your care. One of you was told you had to undergo a c-section, while the other was given no choice on what care your son should receive. Meanwhile, the ethical principle of justice is about providing equity and fairness in treatment. How can we make providers aware of unequal treatment? One idea I had is if you notice it, ask why you recommend this care for x patient but this for y patient. This question could at least help start a dialogue, but I am open to any other suggestions people have.
Thanks again to both of you for sharing your stories. I thought this video helped expand my knowledge of maternal mortality for Black women in the US. While there is also a need for changes on a systemic level, this is helpful in how I can make changes on a smaller scale.
What if it isn’t bias
Some groups are more likely to be non compliant
Thank you so much for talking about this. I’ve tried to educate myself on this as much as possible in order to not be part of the problem and I definitely learned some things from this video
Make black hospitals...Clinics, black people just need to restart in Africa.
This discussion on maternal mortality in the United States sheds light on the injustice that affects women of color. They have a three fold higher rate of maternal mortality. This is a striking failure of our healthcare system that is unacceptable and has many unethical components within it. This is a violation of nonmaleficence and justice, two components a physician vows to uphold. One issue that is mentioned about the hospital system caring for pregnant moms is that they aren’t receiving undivided attention from a healthcare professional which has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Hospitals are more concerned about efficiency than taking care of moms because they are ultimately profit driven. The system isn’t allowing nurses and physicians to be there for their patients throughout the entire pregnancy. There are countless stories from black women illustrating how they weren’t taken seriously during complaints, and didn’t have the attention they needed. I think we need to reevaluate our healthcare system as a whole and change the expectations of caring for pregnancy and labor. More undivided attention needs to be provided, paid for, and encouraged, in order to reduce harm. There must be more discussion on these appalling facts. Everyone on the healthcare team needs to be watching out for biases and speaking up when there are injustices occurring. We must address these inequalities in maternal mortality for black women and start by talking about it and addressing it more freely. There also needs to be more attention paid to postpartum care, and giving access to care, especially to those who cannot afford it. Pregnancy is a very natural process that has become so industrialized. It seems like our healthcare system has lost sight of the human body's capabilities in childbirth and that c-sections are being done to reduce hospital risk. By doing this we are causing unnecessary stress on moms and babies, and ultimately harm, and racial disparities.
Now talk about how black people reproduce at significantly higher rates than the rest of the population.
There’s no injustice
Black Americans have better maternal health than any other large black population in history
Or, maybe black women need to change their behavior
Very informational, thank you!
Very welcome! Thanks for being receptive! - Sheena Williams, RN
It breaks my heart that moms are experiencing these types of disparities and mistreatment. I'm thankful that as a black women I have never experienced such. The staff was always kind and supportive with all of my pregnancies and deliveries. It is very important that this issue is being addressed, and I hope to see change in the near future.
Black patients need black doctor s only
Sure. Take Pookie and Ray Ray’s clinic for yourselves
IF YOU GET THE FEELING YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ISN'T LISTENING TO YOU, GET A NEW ONE.
Right ❤
🙏🏾🫶🏾🕯️🕊️
Some of it could be an insurance thing I did pre-certification for an Obgyn office and Cesarean pays more because it’s an actual procedure vs the traditional way to deliver.
we need more black doctors and nurses ...simple
It shouldn’t be. Where are our doctors, specialists, nurses etc
And nothing about improving family life (yes, black fathers matter in this discussion) to improve resources and create a environment where you normalize relationships with doctors.
So, I agree with the subject of the video but that's big part of being able to afford better health care.
Maybe more black doctors
Why are this all of a sudden dying
GREAT VIDEO. THANK YOU.
No talk of homicide being the number 1 cause of death for pregnant Black women up until one year after giving birth?
Hi! Thanks for the video! Though you didn't mention some things I'd have liked to have seen: You showed data that supports the idea the maternal mortality situation is worse for black mothers, but you didn't mention any data suggesting the cause of such thing. I don't want to take away the merit of the important racism issues you touched, which could be some, if not all, of the causes of such problems. But the video is less persuasive when you only talk about issues mothers encounter without making a case, say, with data, for those issues being the cause of the maternal mortality disparity.
This video was about our personal perspectives as black moms. In this video, we wanted to highlight that when socioeconomic and educational factors are not a factor, black moms are still at risk. Data can be dismissive of the individual experience but we wanted provide personal insight to the disparity. - Sheena Williams, RN
The video is not a university course including detailed biostatistics, case studies, and conclusions. The point of the video is to make people aware of the horrifying disparities in healthcare and outcomes, including maternal deaths, for black women. The video is informative and persuasive, unlike your "advice" that is laughable and unnecessary. Looking forward to your highly detailed video on a potentially deadly health concern that viewers may or may not find persuasive. LOL
How sad....we still fighting slavery..we're not free..2023 slavery still exist...2 America's: the black one and white one... that's 😢 SAD
So dumb
Asians are dominating
Sad but true
Eat healthier
It’s not just that … did you watch the video??
You make this statement as if people of other races are all healthy. White people statistically are quite close to black people in percentage of obesity(regarding adults).
@@hi.goodbye2167Honestly it's really not even that. The highest maternal mortality rate in the world is in sub saharan Africa. Which black ppl are looking over other black people. This could be something genetic because other countries with similar states of economy don't have this issue.
Wrong. Healthy black women are still dying at high rates after delivery, when compared to other ethnic groups.
@@hi.goodbye2167 right
PREGNANCY IS NOT WITHOUT RISKS. NEVER IGNORE ANY SYMPTOMS
Every woman is different
RETIRED RN HERE. NURSING SCHOOL DID NOT TEACH US ABOUT THE "OTHER SIDE" OF VACCINES. BUT YOU MUST BE AWARE...FOR YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND FOR YOU TO INSTRUCT YOUR PATIENTS. BECOME VACCINE AWARE.