CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Pregnancy is truly a beautiful thing to experience. Unfortunately, not all women are able to see the seeds of their labor.
Maternal mortality has been a major health-care crisis for many years in the United States, but for certain groups, the numbers are much higher.
Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women, according to the CDC.
"It is recognized to be about a three to four (times) increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality for Black women compared to other groups," said OB-GYN Maryjoy Weathersby.
Many factors contribute to the disproportionate rates.
"Preeclampsia is one of our leading causes of maternal mortality," Weathersby said. "And we want to share and educate with all patients on the warning signs, the symptoms, when to call, and who to call, where to go."
But the Black women that do have access to resources -- still suffer.
Jaishree Ellis is another OB-GYN who said changes must be made for patients and medical professionals.
"The disparity also exists among well educated women, professional Black women -- they're dying just as much," she said. "And so, we have to ask ourselves, 'Why is that happening when we have a population of women who have resources?'
"To listen we have to be willing to take our patients seriously."
Because every pregnancy is different. Some mothers fortunate enough to survive after giving birth are left scarred by their labor experiences.
Whitney Brown is a mother of five. She said her labor, which took place in a hospital, presented her with several challenges along the way.
"None of my hospital births ended without some sort of surgery," she said.
Brown said her fifth and final birth was different.
She elected to have a home birth, and educated herself as to the different ways to reduce complications.
"Connect to a mom's group on Facebook," she said. "(Take) childbirth classes to get you prepared and to get you ready so that you can have the healthiest baby possible, and the most successful labor and delivery possible."
Having these resources in Corpus Christi is great, but some interventions start at home.
"Your nutrition before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and even while you're postpartum, while you're breastfeeding is so critical for your own health and for your babies health."
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