A number of our MCH students attended the 2021 Black Maternal Health Conference, hosted by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), April 16-17, online. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
By Anastasia Woods, BA
This year I had the privilege to virtually attend the Black Maternal Health Conference as a CEMCH scholar. I was beyond excited to attend each of the sessions, as this conference’s focus directly aligns with my passion for health equity and invested interest in the racial disparities of maternal health outcomes. Logistically, I found this conference’s platform both aesthetically engaging and user-friendly. I thoroughly loved the paraphernalia that was given in our registration gift bag. I also appreciated that each session was only about twenty minutes long, making it accessible to balance attending live sessions/watching recording sessions without dealing with Zoom fatigue.
One session focused on Black women’s and birthing people’s experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussed a recent study that aimed to understand the impact of the pandemic and the perspectives of the Black Lives Matter movement. A study conducted by Jazmin Fontenot, MPH, and Dr. Brittany Chambers revealed that Black mothers are facing heightened stress levels not only from the fear of contracting COVID-19, but the constant fear for their children’s safety in relation to police brutality. A key quote from one participant states “That’s why I never wanted a son because I didn’t want to have to always be worried about his safety,” which truly stuck out to me as it highlights the detrimental impact police killings have on Black reproductive health. This session has made me particularly interested in further investigating best practices to support the needs of Black women and families, especially during this difficult time.
The “Black Midwifery is Resistance” session was my absolute favorite. As an aspiring Certified Nurse-Midwife, I found it deeply affirming to learn about the integral role Black granny midwives played in protecting Black women’s bodily autonomy, honoring African traditions, and upholding the Black family unit. For example, I learned that midwives would use cottonseed as a medicinal herb for both birth control and abortions. The herb was eventually banned by plantation owners from being grown recreationally to further control Black women’s fertility. Overall, attending the sessions at Black Maternal Health Conference further affirmed my passion for maternal health and commitment to improving MCH outcomes.
Anastasia Woods, BA, is a second-year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She is graduating this May. This fall, she will be attending Vanderbilt University School of Nursing as an aspiring Certified Nurse Midwife and Family Health Nurse Practitioner. Her interests include the racial disparity in maternal mortality, doula-centered care, and the midwifery model of care. She enjoys going on long drives, learning new things through intellectual conversations, and engaging in radical rest through napping.
