According to the CDC, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. As the gap in Black maternal health and pronounced mortality rates in the country continues, New Jersey is not immune to this crisis.
At The Center for Great Expectations (CGE), our response to disparities in Black maternal mental health is holistic. One area of focus is integrating the care of a doula into CGE’s pre and post birth care, including home visitation programs, ensuring that mothers in recovery are cared for fully, so that they can focus their energy on bonding with their babies.
Prior to giving birth, doulas help to mitigate the factors that lead to postpartum PTSD. A 2021 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, tells us that after giving birth, “People of color exhibited more severe postpartum PTSD symptoms…with Black mothers particularly affected.” The Center for Great Expectations’ doulas are present in the birthing room helping mom feel safe, supported, and informed during labor. Doulas advocate for mothers, including skin-to-skin contact in the hospital, allowing space for the natural unfolding of the mother-baby bond.
CGE also offers families clinical early relational health services, a vital support for the parent-child relationship for mothers with past histories of trauma who are at risk for postpartum depression and PTSD. These supports reduce stress on mom and help her to form helpful beliefs and feelings of self-efficacy so that she can effectively respond to the needs of her infant. Infants whose needs are met in this way are positioned for healthy development in terms of physical health, cognition, and mental health.
CGE’s focus on postpartum mood and anxiety disorders affects not only the mental health of the mother, but also positively affects the child’s development. A JAMA Pediatrics study (2020) noted that, “A mother’s depression and anxiety from conception through the first year of the baby’s life is associated with negative developmental outcomes through adolescence.” Because the mother-child relationship is the foundation of healthy child development, this disparity in maternal health translates into a disparity in child physical, emotional, and mental health as well.
As The Center for Great Expectations recognizes Black Maternal Health Week, let us elevate the mental health needs of mothers and babies and leverage community resources to ensure that birth is safe for Black mothers and babies from a holistic health perspective.
