Infant loss can be absolutely heart-wrenching, and it’s something that no mother or father should ever endure.
Unfortunately, it is not all that rare. Among Black women in particular, infant loss has become a problem that can no longer be denied. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women have a stillbirth rate as high as ~11 per 1,000 births. When compared to white women this is uncharacteristically high, given that white women experience a rate of only ~five per 1,000 births.
In other words, basically double the likelihood!
But here’s the good news. By being vigilant and understanding the various factors at play, we can begin to address this very real and troubling problem.
Let’s uncover five reasons infant loss is more common among Black families.
1. Healthcare Access
If access to healthcare is inadequate, everything else can fall apart.
As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) finds, many Black mothers are unable to get the proper prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal care they deserve. Sadly, many of these much-needed medical services are made unavailable due to barriers in the system.
Poor insurance coverage and geographic boundaries are two of the main reasons for this.
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In some cases, Black families may have few quality healthcare facilities in their communities, especially if they are locked in urban neighborhoods without good transportation. Research also indicates that Black mothers have a greater likelihood of being uninsured or underinsured, further complicating the process.
Because successful childbirths rely on timely medical care, this can be quite the problem.
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2. Financial Struggles
Another factor to consider is financial struggle. Many mothers are burdened by bills, debts, and other monetary constraints that may prevent them from getting proper medical care. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Black families are more likely to be at or below the poverty line.
This inability to afford quality healthcare may prevent expecting mothers from getting necessary check-ups or important medications to ensure the health of their pregnancy.
And then there’s the psychological variable. As you can imagine, intense financial stress can lead to chronic stress, which of course, may affect the health of the mother and baby. These higher rates of stress present a very real physiological response which in some cases leads to miscarriage or preterm birth.
3. Medical Discrimination
Even today, discrimination may be more prevalent than we realize.
Studies, such as those from the Health Affairs journal, find that Black patients often report feeling undervalued or unheard when visiting doctors. This discrimination can manifest in many ways, but it typically shows up as implicit bias. This bias is essentially the unconscious beliefs of practitioners that shape their care.
Complicating the issue further is the fact that many Black patients are discriminated against based on pain management. So, if a mother is going through issues with a pregnancy, her concerns and woes may not be properly acknowledged.
In the long run, this type of medical discrimination may prevent Black mothers from ever seeking care. Which, of course, is not good!
4. Family Support Structures
Many Black mothers may lack family support structures that are fundamental to achieving a positive pregnancy. According to many studies, Black mothers often struggle for familial assistance during and after pregnancy, affecting both their physical and mental health.
Research indicates that urban movement and family dynamics have led to fewer extended families. Without a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand, many Black mothers may struggle throughout the often difficult process of pregnancy.
Because fetuses rely on the mental and physical well-being of their mothers as they develop, additional stressors can have a major impact. The role of family support – whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, cannot be overstated.
RELATED: Childbearing While Black: Changing the Narrative for Black Maternal Health
5. Stress and Disease
As previously mentioned, stress can have profound impacts on the health of a pregnant woman and her fetus. Due to the reasons we’ve discussed, many Black women may experience heightened stress responses. These, in turn, can worsen or even lead to conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. If not directly, indirectly.
Stress is also known to lead to negative pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weights, preterm births, and miscarriages. The chronic release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline is the main reason for this.
But here’s the good news.
By knowing the factors at play, it’s much easier to make lifestyle adjustments and look for ways to improve pregnancy outcomes. In reality, Black mothers-to-be have a lot to look forward to! If we, as a society, can address the structural issues, a lot of these poor outcomes can improve.
And like any healthy newborn, that’s a beautiful thing.
