Atlanta OB-GYN addresses challenges as Black Maternal Health Week begins

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – As Black Maternal Health Week begins, physicians are working to raise awareness about the importance of Black mothers’ health during pregnancy and in childbirth.

“Pregnancy is one of highs and unfortunately lows,” Dr. Ericka Gibson, who practices at Kaiser Permanente, said. “We celebrate the joy around pregnancy and delivery, but things can happen.”

Atlanta-based OB-GYN Dr. Gibson said Black women suffer pregnancy-related complications and death two to three times more than other patients.

“A lot of different reasons why those disparities exist. Racism definitely can play a part in making Black women more likely to suffer, from needs such as transportation, economic needs,” Gibson said.

According to Gibson, common complications for Black women include hypertension or high blood pressure related to pregnancy, as well as diabetes or hemorrhage after delivery.

Atlanta father Charles Johnson sadly lost his wife, Kira, after she suffered for hours from a postpartum hemorrhage. She had just given birth to their second child. Johnson went on to create the 4Kira4Moms nonprofit to work toward eradicating the maternal health crisis in the U.S.

“The highest honor I could pay Kira is to do everything I can to make sure that I send other mothers home to their precious babies,” he said.

Johnson’s nonprofit is partnering with others to host a Black Maternal Health Walk and Block Party on Saturday, April 13 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center. The event begins at 8:00 a.m.

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