Black Maternal Health Week 2025: “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy.
- Daniela Williams
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Every April during Black Maternal Health Week, we center the stories, struggles, and resilience of Black Mothers across the nation. We bring our collective voice to a truth that has been ignored for decades, Black mothers are dying at disproportionate rates, not because we’re unhealthy, but because we’re unheard.
This week isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about honoring the lived experiences behind the statistics. With that being said, I will add a bit of transparency and share part of my birth story.
After giving birth to my son, our first night home from the hospital, I knew something wasn’t right. My body felt off. My body felt swollen, and my head started to ache. I immediately went back to the hospital and told the nurses, and the attending physician about my concerns and was almost immediately dismissed. My blood pressure, while not dangerously high, was higher than it had been my entire pregnancy. I continually voiced my concerns but was only met with casual reassurance that it was normal for it to be high and that I “ just had a baby.” I was brushed aside and about to be discharged and sent home to “rest.”
I was angry and terrified of what could happen What if it’s preeclampsia or something else? I felt invisible in a room with people trained to care for me. They were not familiar with my medical history nor did they care to ask.
It wasn’t until my Black maternal-fetal medicine doctor, saw that I was in a room, that things shifted. She saw me. She listened to me without downplaying or rationalizing my symptoms. She acted with urgency and compassion, and in doing so, she not only treated my body, she honored my humanity. She advocated for the care I needed when no one else would. That moment affirmed what so many Black women already know: We are often unheard, particularly in medical settings, even in moments of crisis. We tend to be minimized even our instincts dismissed.
That experience stays with me—not only because of what could have happened but because of what did happen. A compassionate, and empathetic medical professional stepped in. She saw me, she heard me, and she believed me.
That is the essence of what Black Maternal Health Week is about. Yes, we need systemic change. Yes, we must hold healthcare institutions accountable. But we also need each other. We need spaces where our voices are amplified, where our concerns are validated, and where our care is culturally responsive and rooted in equity.
To those who’ve experienced something similar: you are not alone. Your story matters. Your health and well-being matter—not just during pregnancy, but in every stage of motherhood.
Let’s continue to lift one another up, to speak truth to power, and to build a future where Black maternal joy is just as common as Black maternal survival.
This week and every week, may we be reminded: we are not alone, and we are not powerless. Together, we are creating a new narrative—one rooted in healing, dignity, and life.
Check out these Links for more information
A leading organization focused on advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice through advocacy, policy, research, and culture shift.
Offers national data and statistics on maternal mortality, including disparities faced by Black women, along with patient stories and provider resources.
Focuses on achieving birth equity for Black families by optimizing maternal and infant health through training, research, and community engagement.
If you are looking for local Birth workers or support check out these folks:
A local group that promotes breastfeeding and maternal health among Black families. They actively participate in Black Maternal Health Week and other community events to raise awareness and provide support
Serving a six-county region in Southeastern NC, CCLCF provides comprehensive care coordination with a focus on improving maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
A collective of doulas reflecting underrepresented communities in Wilmington. They focus on providing culturally competent birth support and education.
A Black-owned doula practice in Wilmington offering inclusive birth and postpartum support. They emphasize diversity in the birth working community.
Led by Chiara, a holistic birth doula who believes in honoring the mind, body, and spirit during the birthing process. They provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum support in Wilmington.
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