Why Black Maternal Health Week Matters—And What We All Need to Talk About
Every year, from April 11–17, we honor Black Maternal Health Week—a time to spotlight the challenges Black families face during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
This week is about truth-telling, healing, and change. It’s about naming what’s broken, holding space for the emotional toll, and making sure the voices and experiences of Black birthing people and their families are heard—loudly, clearly, and unapologetically.
If you are a Black birthing person or parent, chances are you don’t need a reminder that something isn’t right. You’ve lived the disparities. You’ve felt the dismissal. You’ve carried the weight.
And if you’re someone who loves, supports, or is raising a child with a Black birthing person—you may have witnessed this too. Maybe you’ve stood beside your partner, feeling powerless when their concerns were ignored. Maybe you’ve had to learn how to speak up in systems that weren’t built for them—or for you.
This week is for all of that. For all of you. For the stories, the pain, and, the strength that too often goes unseen.
The Numbers Are Real—And So Is the Impact
Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the U.S.
But it’s not just about outcomes. It’s about the emotional cost of navigating care that’s often:
Dismissive of pain
Rushed or transactional
Uninformed about cultural needs
Judgmental about family dynamics
Silent on mental health support
We’ve sat in spaces where we should have felt safe—and instead felt unseen, afraid, or dismissed.
That fear stays with you. It shapes how you ask for help. It shapes how you heal.
These are systemic issues—not personal failures.
This Week Is About:
Visibility.
Because Black families deserve more than survival—they deserve to thrive.
Validation.
If you’ve been told “you’re overreacting,” I want you to hear this: you’re not.
Support.
Not just for birthing people, but for partners, co-parents, chosen family—everyone holding space in the postpartum journey.
Healing.
Because our communities deserve care that is culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and affirming from the inside out.
What to Expect This Week
Each day, we’ll be sharing content around the different parts of Black maternal health and postpartum care, including:
Postpartum disparities
Mental health in the fourth trimester
Advocacy in healthcare
Partner & family support
Community-based healing
Encouragement for every stage of the journey
Whether you're the one who gave birth, the one standing beside them, or someone trying to do better—this week is for you.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
At Resilient Roots Counseling & Consulting, we support parents and families through the postpartum journey—with care that sees your fear and honors it—because we’ve lived it too. And we’ve built a space where your voice will never be too much.
This week is a reminder: you’re not alone, and your experience matters.
Ready to talk or share your story? Click here to connect.
