WORKS. NEW THIS MORNING, MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PREVENTING PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS. THOSE ARE THE GOALS OF BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK, WHICH RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THESE PEOPLE FACE. STAR CONNOR EXPLAINS WHY THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES EXIST. I’M NOT TRYING TO GET EMOTIONAL. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND I’M SORRY IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD. SKYLER KIRKWOOD SAYS SHE’S ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MOTHER, AND TAKING ONE LOOK AT HER SON, FOUR MONTH OLD MALCOLM, JEREMIAH BRINGS A SMILE TO HER FACE EVERY TIME. WHENEVER I’M WITH HIM, UM, HE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER. EVEN IF I’M NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY. UM, HE LIFTS MY SPIRITS AND MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. KIRKWOOD SAYS DAILY CHALLENGES INCLUDE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL. IT’S JUST LIKE YOUR WHOLE BRAIN CHEMISTRY CHANGES, YOU KNOW? AND YOU’RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY THAT YOU’VE CREATED. BUT THEN IT’S ALSO JUST A LOT OF MENTAL TOLL ON YOU. SHE SAYS JOINING NOVANT HEALTH FREE POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP HAS HELPED. NEW MOTHERHOOD CAN BE VERY ISOLATING. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF THEY’RE NOT ALSO PARENTS, IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL THERE’S A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE. HEALTH EDUCATOR LAURA SHELTON SAYS GROUPS LIKE THIS HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF BLACK MATERNAL MORTALITY AND OTHER POSTPARTUM ISSUES. WE DO KNOW THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A PREGNANCY CAUSE THAN A WHITE WOMAN. SO, YOU KNOW, AS A NURSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE, THE WHYS AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURAL RACISM AND WE HAVE IMPLICIT BIAS AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNDERLYING CHRONIC CONDITIONS. SHE SAYS THE SUPPORT GROUP HELPS MOTHERS LEARN HOW TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH. LEARN, LEARN ABOUT CHILDBIRTH, LEARN ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, LEARN ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT IN CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM. THAT’S REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU LEARN THOSE WARNING SIGNS AND LEARN WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR. WHEN AND IF YOU DO HAVE A PREGNANCY COMPLICATION, HEARING SOME OF THE OTHER MOMS SPEAK AND KNOWING THAT I’M NOT ALONE IN HOW I’M FEELING OR KNOWING WHAT MAY BE TO EXPECT FOR SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT FEEL OR SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN LATER DOWN THE LINE. AND JUST HAVING THAT KIND OF BUILT IN COMMUNITY, EVEN IF WE’RE JUST VIRTUAL, HAS REALLY HELPED ME A LOT, SHELTON SAYS. NOVANT HEALTH’S FREE POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP MEETS VIRTUALLY EACH WEEK. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION INSIDE THIS STO
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Black Maternal Health Week: Raising awareness on postpartum challenges
Black Maternal Health Week: Raising awareness on what local mothers here in the Triad are facing
Updated: 8:25 AM EDT Apr 15, 2024
Making health care more accessible and preventing pregnancy-related deaths.Those are the goals of Black Maternal Health Week, which raises awareness about the challenges these mothers face.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related causes than white women.Top Stories21-year-old NC A&T student killed in Downtown Greensboro crash, officers searching for other driverLucky ticket purchased at Burlington convenience store wins $2 million prizeNorth Carolina woman can build her dream home after winning $4 million lottery prizeGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereSchaelaur Kirkwood said she’s always wanted to be a mother. She said taking one look at her son, 4-month-old Malcolm Jeremiah, brings a smile to her face every time.”Whenever I’m with him, he makes everything better. Even if I’m not having a good day, mentally or emotionally, he lifts my spirits and makes me feel better,” Kirkwood said. Kirkwood revealed that daily challenges include “Physical, mental, emotional. It’s just like your whole brain chemistry changes,” she said. “You know, and you’re so grateful to have this beautiful little baby that you created. But then it’s also just a lot of mental toll on you.”She says joining Novant Health’s free postpartum support group has helped. “New motherhood can be very isolating. You know, you still have your friends and everything, but if they’re not also parents, it just makes you feel there’s a slight difference,” she said. Health Educator Laura Shelton, with Novant Health, said groups like this help raise awareness of Black maternal mortalities and other postpartum issues.”We do know that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy cause than a white woman,” Shelton said. “As a nurse, you know, we can talk about the whys. We have, you know, structural racism and we have implicit bias and we have, you know, underlying chronic conditions.”She said the support group helps the mothers learn how to take charge of their health.”Learn about what to expect in childbirth and postpartum. That’s really going to help you learn those warning signs and learn what to look out for when and if you do have a pregnancy complication,” Shelton said. “Hearing some of the other moms speak and knowing that I’m not alone. And just having that kind of built-in community, even if we’re just virtual, has really helped me a lot,” Kirkwood said. Shelton said Novant Health’s free postpartum support group meets virtually every week. CLICK HERE TO JOIN: Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here
Making health care more accessible and preventing pregnancy-related deaths.
Those are the goals of Black Maternal Health Week, which raises awareness about the challenges these mothers face.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Top Stories
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
Schaelaur Kirkwood said she’s always wanted to be a mother. She said taking one look at her son, 4-month-old Malcolm Jeremiah, brings a smile to her face every time.
“Whenever I’m with him, he makes everything better. Even if I’m not having a good day, mentally or emotionally, he lifts my spirits and makes me feel better,” Kirkwood said.
Kirkwood revealed that daily challenges include “Physical, mental, emotional. It’s just like your whole brain chemistry changes,” she said. “You know, and you’re so grateful to have this beautiful little baby that you created. But then it’s also just a lot of mental toll on you.”
She says joining Novant Health’s free postpartum support group has helped.
“New motherhood can be very isolating. You know, you still have your friends and everything, but if they’re not also parents, it just makes you feel there’s a slight difference,” she said.
Health Educator Laura Shelton, with Novant Health, said groups like this help raise awareness of Black maternal mortalities and other postpartum issues.
“We do know that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy cause than a white woman,” Shelton said. “As a nurse, you know, we can talk about the whys. We have, you know, structural racism and we have implicit bias and we have, you know, underlying chronic conditions.”
She said the support group helps the mothers learn how to take charge of their health.
“Learn about what to expect in childbirth and postpartum. That’s really going to help you learn those warning signs and learn what to look out for when and if you do have a pregnancy complication,” Shelton said.
“Hearing some of the other moms speak and knowing that I’m not alone. And just having that kind of built-in community, even if we’re just virtual, has really helped me a lot,” Kirkwood said.
Shelton said Novant Health’s free postpartum support group meets virtually every week.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here