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Five Questions Pregnant Black Moms Should Ask Their Doctors Before Giving Birth
While becoming a mom is one of the most exciting milestones in life; there are severe risks Black mothers face while pregnant that cannot be ignored. Commonly, these pregnancy-related complications include hypertension, preeclampsia, and hemorrhage. Despite the promise of doctors being trained in implicit bias, Black women have significantly poorer birthing outcomes than other women giving birth each year, according to the CDC.
Outside of the healthcare field, a phenomenon called “weathering” is affecting Black mothers of every socioeconomic level.
Coined by Dr. Arline T. Geronimus in 1992, weathering describes the devastating effects of systemic oppression—including racism and classism—on the body. The never-ending demands of having to work twice as hard while navigating overt and covert racism erodes the body’s stress signals, putting Black women at a higher risk for maternal mortality.
Are these statistics alarming? Yes. But the good news is there’s much we can do to safeguard our health while pregnant. Organizations such as Health4Equity, a Centre of Excellence at global advertising agency VML that is funded by the WPP Racial Equity Programme, work to raise awareness about racial bias in the healthcare field and equip Black women with the knowledge to self-advocate.
If you’re an expecting parent, it’s essential to be armed with the right questions before each doctor visit to ensure you have a plan to mitigate risks as much as possible. Here are five questions pregnant Black moms can ask their doctors to help plan for a safe and stress-free birth.
1."What is my chosen hospital's track record in terms of maternal outcomes for Black women?"
Poet Yvette Perry, a collaborator with Health4Equity’s new digital zine RxUCKUS, acknowledges that “A common theme expressed during my listening sessions with the women we engaged for this project was the experience of not being adequately listened to by healthcare providers.” Sharday Pierre, a New York City-based mother of one who had to navigate pre-existing conditions through her pregnancy, told xoNecole exclusively, “The same way we take time to find a partner, we need to invest that time in finding a capable physician or birthing center.” Pierre, whose obstetrician had been her gynecologist for years, shared that she chose him because he is also Black, and she felt more heard by him than the other practitioners she’d seen prior. Trusting him for delivery made sense. Pierre advises, “Ask questions, listen to your body, and trust your instincts.”
The fact is Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than our white counterparts. Your hospital’s track record matters. Knowing this will give you insight into the quality of care the hospital provides, allowing you to assess the risks and benefits of giving birth at that particular facility. This transparency can help with your decision-making process and put your mind at ease.
2."What is the hospital/birthing center’s policy on doula care?"
A doula is trained to provide emotional, informational, and physical support to a birthing mom and their partner throughout the pregnancy process. A doula’s role is usually focused on aiding and advocating for the mother and her family during pregnancy and childbirth, which works in tandem with the clinical care you might receive. Hospital and birthing center policies vary, so it’s important to ask your birthing center or hospital about their policy on allowing doula care. Many often do, and offer supportive procedures. Brooklyn native Ariel Delande told xoNecole that she sought the help of a small-practice birthing center when giving birth to her son nearly two years ago. The center’s policy was that their network of 8-10 midwives all needed to be familiar with her birthing plan if her midwife was unavailable when Delande needed them.
If you plan on having a doula, it’s essential to discuss your birthing plan with your physician well in advance of your due date. If the hospital does have restrictions, try negotiating with your healthcare team. Open communication makes for a positive experience.
3."How will I know if I'm experiencing complications or issues during my pregnancy, and when should I seek immediate medical attention?"
Some aspects of pregnancy issues are generally considered normal among women, including weight gain, nausea, hormonal changes that affect your skin and hair, and mild contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions. But ultimately, it's important that expecting moms trust what they know about their bodies. As a result, they should feel comfortable alerting their doctors of symptoms that seem concerning. If you’re experiencing painful complications or issues that don’t feel what you consider normal during your pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately. For Delande, carpal tunnel was an unexpected issue. “My hand would just fall asleep. It was the most uncomfortable experience of my life,” explains Delande.
“My doctor expressed that this is a normal symptom [and explained to me that it happens when] the majority of the nutrients you take go to the baby. That was the first sign that motherhood is sacrifice.” Each pregnancy is unique; however, an attentive physician should adequately communicate what you can expect and what symptoms, if any, are of concern.
4."What kind of additional support and health education services can you connect me to?"
Trained healthcare professionals should be culturally competent and equipped to serve the needs and concerns of pregnant Black mothers, and there are ways you can ensure your birthing needs will be met. Ask the hospital if they offer prenatal classes covering labor and delivery or pain management options. Ask them if they offer nutritional counseling or breastfeeding education on the benefits and proper latch techniques. Postpartum care is another invaluable resource to help navigate life after delivery. Ensure that your doctor will give you equitable access to their services.
Seek services outside of the hospital. By researching and tapping into community resources, you can gain insight into effective interventions your doctor may have not mentioned. RxUCKUS, created by Health4Equity, is a great place to start. Through a collection of creative pieces and articles, like the feature focused on Dr. Arline Geronimus’s research on the effects of “weathering” on Black mothers brought on by racism and stress, Black women can identify and discover tools to counter these effects.
5."What are some ways I can reduce my stress levels throughout my pregnancy?"
Dr. Geronimus’ research suggests that weathering causes comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Stress can exacerbate complications during pregnancy, so it's essential to connect with your doctor about how best to minimize stress during your pregnancy. For Delande, getting proper sleep was paramount. She used a body pillow to support her back in her third trimester, which helped keep her comfortable. RxUCKUS Zine also provides tools for resilience such as helping you to discover healing through the arts, teaching you to create new neurons to combat weathering through meditation, and exercising the power of positive affirmations.
Staying informed, whether through asking medical professionals specific questions or seeking out resources such as RxUCKUS, is vital to not stressing yourself or your developing baby.
Featured image by urbazon/Getty Images
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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