9. Black Mothers Matter with Marchelle Pettit

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Why? There's a thousand reasons but the bottom line is that Black women are undervalued. Because our pain is sometimes overlooked and we are not seen equal to white women in the hospital room, we are dying at rapid rates during child labor and delivery. On this episode, Damesha spoke with Marchelle Pettit, a Certified Doula, Lactation Specialist, and Community Health Worker on the racial disparities seen in this realm and why Black Mothers Matter. 

Damesha and Marchelle discuss: 

Midwife? Doula? 

• Both a midwife and a doula are apart of a woman's birthing team, but there is a distinct difference between the two. 
• A midwife has authorization to perform any medical assistance that needs to take place during the labor and delivery. 
• A doula only offers emotional, mental, and physical support to the mother during this time but does not offer any form of medical assistance.

The necessity of advocating for ourselves 

• Unfortunately, if we don't advocate for ourselves as Black women, no one will advocate for us. 
• A doula's goal is to never go against the medical advice but to support the mother 100% in what makes her comfortable. 

What can a woman in her 20s do to prepare for their birthing experience

• Cater to her preconception health 
• Many women believe that they should prepare for childbirth at the time that she is trying to conceive, but there should be steps taken before hand if she believes that she wants to conceive at any point in her life. 
• Preconception health encompasses the wellness of a woman's physical, emotional, and mental state in efforts to prepare for childbirth. 

Advice to to Black women who are believers, looking to become mothers 

• Continue. To. Trust. In. God. 
• "Understand that because its not happening now, that doesn't mean no."

Special Resources 

• Follow Marchelle on IG here for more information on her position as a doula and birthing experiences! 
• Postpartum Support International - https://www.postpartum.net Postpartum Support International - PSI
• Black Mamas Matter -https://blackmamasmatter.org/
• National Birth Equity Collaborative - https://birthequity.org
• March of Dimes -https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/pregnancy.aspx
• National Black Doulas Association -National Directory — National Black Doulas Association®
• National Association to Advance Black Birth - The NAABB – National Association to Advance Black Birth

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