Two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable in the US l GMA

The new documentary, “Aftershock,” takes a look at some of the 50,000 families who experience unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery each year.
READ MORE:
2 dads work to end maternal mortality crisis after losing partners to childbirth: gma.abc/3aOly17
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#GMA #Aftershock #MaternalMortality

[@lakiiamccall3051]

As a black woman, I can definitely say that not being heard and/or paid attention to is not only a maternal-fetal issue. It is still believed by many throughout the medical industry that we don't feel pain as much as our white counterparts and thusly many of our cries for help are ignored and/or brushed aside by doctors and nurses. I have learned to do my own research, be my own advocate and listen to my gut. Don't take everything every doctor says at face value. They can be wrong too. Pay attention to HOW they interact with you. If what they're saying doesn't sound right, find another doctor! I don't even waste my time with physicians who talk "at" me, talk over me and are dismissive of my concerns.

[@Lee-oj3ro]

I am a black woman that has had a few medical issues lately and every medical team encountered has been demining and dismissive. They play down your concerns, because guess what they are not concerned. Don’t continue to seek medical attention from those that seem dismissive, it may cost you your life.

[@randihigginbotham5070]

Agreed. And same. I actually had a doctor tell me the pain I was describing wasn’t “right” because he never heard it described that way before. Then walked out the room. I just walked out.

[@hippychick420]

@@randihigginbotham5070 I had them tell me for 25 years that my condition wasn't associated with pain. Come to August 15, 2015 I needed a major spinal surgery.

[@randihigginbotham5070]

@@hippychick420 Insane. It’s one thing to tell a patient, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong or paining you’ it’s another to be dismissive. That’s what really stings.

[@gummismiles024]

7 years ago I had complications during my pregnancy. I delivered at 27 weeks and my daughter weighed only 2 pounds. I told nurses that I was going into labor and they waited until my contractions were less than a minute apart to finally realize that she was coming. She lived for 2 weeks in the ICU before she "mysteriously" started having intestinal failure. She died before they were able to operate. She could have been saved. Thank you for this documentary, this needs to be heard.

[@rosereacts843]

I’m so sorry and I hope God has healed your heart ♥️ It won’t make her come back or make it better but with God he can make it a little more bearable… Again I’m sorry thank you for sharing 💖

[@meeka2702]

I'm crying because I had a healthcare position on a labor and delivery unit and I watched a black nurse and myself a black ob tech basically beg a white doctor one night to go check on a black patient who ended up losing her baby at about 18 weeks while visiting the area from out of town..her bleeding and pain almost cost her, her life. Never stop fighting for what you know is right...

[@saramarshall2957]

I had a baby 15 weeks ago today. I had a cesarean and they warn you of potential blood clots and at one point I was worried because my legs were so swollen. Thankfully it all turned out okay but definitely a possibility to prepare for

[@calikeisha365]

The medical staff assumed I was a teenager when I was a 28 year old married woman with my husband there, they refused to give me an epidural and when I got it was wrong, I had an allergic reaction to penicillin and was offered Tylenol. Until recently black women were assumed to have a higher pain tolerance.

[@Hollergirlohio]

This is so sad. Thank God for these strong father's but what about the ones without good fathers that are so rapped up in grief. Prayers for change. Please direct us where we can help

[@chocolatekisses849]

I work at that hospital but I get my Healthcare elsewhere......

[@mjennifer2252]

Here in the UK if a pregnant woman or post partum mum complains of chest pain, its a red flag/concern and doctors will be runing around investigating regardless of the skin colour. These ladies death were preventable, its so sad.

[@becomingdazhuniquefrance2615]

I'm going through everything to become a Doula.

[@mariettaborders1647]

I watched the documentary they made about these beautiful women who lost their lives because the doctors,nurses,hospital were negligent of what was happening to them-I cried so many tears for these women and the men who still have to go on day by day without their partner’s for something that could have been prevented.God Bless them and their families 🙏❤️

[@indytherottweiler9002]

How incredibly beautiful. 2 wonderful dads weather black or white that have had to move forward and raise children without their loves. Something incredible about this film

[@jessicalt4121]

So many deficiencies in our health care system.

[@KRL]

This absolutely breaks my heart. The way that my family has had to advocate for themselves during their most vulnerable time. I hate this. This should NOT be reality.

[@odouglas05]

As women we know our bodies. When it doesn't feel right, keep pushing. Find someone who will listen. I had complications when I got home after my c section. I called and said I didn't feel right. Drove myself to my doctor. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. Be persistent! Your life depends on it

[@kimbelladior3701]

Thank you so much for telling this story

[@dreaveal7672]

Great story. Bout time someone is spreading awareness of what's been going on for so long. Too many women are dying due to child birth. The hospital will brush it off as though it was a natural death vs an intentional death. No one really listens to the patients but they will get upset when that paycheck don't hit their accounts in time!!! I 🙏🏽that the families find justice.

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

Stay strong.👑 I can feel the strength in the room. My prayers are out 2 u.

[@yvonnewilliams8800]

Please if you’re having questions regarding your pregnancy or postpartum issues, please go to the hospital or call your OBGYN. Please don’t ignore the simplest or the most blatant signs. And be persistent for yourself or your loved one. It just might save your life. So sorry that this happened.

[@milkandhoney84]

They let us bleed to death in the hospitals as well (Kira Johnson) We are not safe anywhere.

[@muartistrybyalyshia3457]

I think your missing the point , those mothers both repeatedly asked for help and we’re blatantly ignored as if they’re pain didn’t matter by their healthcare providers simply because of race . It’s happening to me right now ! I’ve been in and out of the hospital because of pain from my right ovary , I was taking almost 20 painkillers a day to tolerate the pain . The doctors insisted I go home and deal with it with MORE ibuprofen. Not a single doctor checked in on me to do a MRI or cat scan they didn’t see if anything was wrong . I mentioned I have endometriosis stage 4 and they immediately began to say they can’t do anything for me but give me pain meds . I have a cyst on my ovary a large one . My 4th attempt at going to the ER in an ambulance and the doctors asked me why I’m back they began to say am I taking Tylenol or ibuprofen instead of wow…this is my 4th time back in the ER maybe we should look into this -instead they kept me over the weekend gave me pain meds to sleep told me someone would speak to me and no one did ! One doctor even tried to say that I should get a psychiatrist because I’m so distraught from the pain . So make your comment make sense to me because it goes beyond that !! It’s the negligence for me ! If I was of a different race I would have been seen right away ! If we as a black community had better hospitals I would have been seen right away ! If we as women had better healthcare doctors who CARED , I would have been seen RIGHT AWAY!

[@ceceprincess4758]

Awww rip

[@suselperez2409]

This has been a long time issue, just kept under the rug to the mainstream. I remember I watched a documentary by Ricki Lake called the Business of Being Born almost a decade ago!

[@ErikaDavisCooks]

💔💔💔

[@tsilva2183]

Yes. I am Puerto Rican and i definitely notice a difference between the way I'm treated and how i see others...I just always tried to tell myself they're like that with everyone, but i know that's not true.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Definitely not crazy about abortion I don't think it is the right choice to make but that fact that the mother can also die is sad. That shouldn't be happening and men in courtroom shouldn't determine that.

[@kmurray559]

Abortion is not the answer to this problem. Black women need the proper care throughout their pregnancy and beyond.

[@akilaj553]

@@kmurray559 I think what she is saying that a black woman may want to really consider the risks before committing to bringing a child into this world. Not encouraging abortion but just giving serious thought that you may lose your life, in the process.

[@kmurray559]

@@akilaj553 I just hate when Black women are used as the poster child for abortion. Abortion was designed to eliminate the black race and now black women only matter when they want to place them on the front line of abortion rights. America does not care how many black babies are eliminated. And abortion is not the remedy to pregnancy related deaths. Better health care and non racist health care is what is needed

[@user-un9wh1nm6o]

so what are you thinking are scott morrison's crunch comment?

[@LarryBanks85]

Wow interesting!

[@patriciaking4605]

Wow! My gosh. What is causing this unexplained deaths. Not good

[@rmartin2642]

It’s because they are not taking these black women symptoms, seriously.

[@lblight5279]

It’s the doctors and hospitals because if we had more black doctors and hospitals this would not be an issue

[@alexandrajackson8498]

If we had more MIDWIVES as we had before the United States government outlawed them.

[@patriciaking4605]

This will only stop when god comes. So so sad.

[@rachelderenoncourt3881]

I’ve had it out with medical staff in the past. I am not a medical professional but I was a medical office manager. I will tell everyone, ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DON’T LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE HOSPITAL. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT DON NOT GO FOR THE CHEAPEST PLAN OR PROVIDER. ESTABLISH RELATioNSHIPS WITH YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. WRITE LETTERS TO THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS ANOUT POOR/UNSATISFACTORY TREATMENT. LASTLY, THIS IS NOT A POPULAR NOTION; IF YOU CAN AVOID C-SECTIONS AND EPIDURALS. THE POSSIBILITY FOR AN UNEXPECTED EVENT INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY.

[@thomism1016]

I am a physician. How on earth can anyone be fobbed off complaining of post-delivery, post-operative CHEST PAIN? 😭😱😤☹️🤬

[@MillennialMountainMama]

😭 R. I. P. I have been tortured in the hospital and ignored. Thankfully I gave birth in hospitals that wouldn’t let me die however my baby was taken at birth because of my race. I got her back and I will be suing. I want everyone to know this and I am biracial so I know how horrible it is for black women. Especially when your hated because of your race. I will be posting my story on my channel.

[@kayyettawalton6687]

Because of this do black women need to be afraid to have children or stop having them because we don’t know if we survive birthing. How do we make sure this doesn’t happen to us?

[@alexandrajackson8498]

Get connected with a reputable Doula, midwife and birthing center.

[@cydniyelldell7553]

As a first time pregnant black woman though I'm excited to have a baby and be a mom, I'm terrified to give birth. Going through labor and giving birth is hard enough for all women, but it's different for black women, it's a shame any woman who has a child should be treated fairly and have everything they need to make sure mom and baby are safe. I feel like I do have a good OBGYN, the hospital I plan to deliver in I've been there before and they have treated me very well and I feel were attentive to my concerns and needs. Still you just never know. I'm glad these dads are speaking out, there needs to be change going forwards for all moms and their babies.

[@aishasolomon7447]

😢 Sad. God is watching you doctors. A Reckoning is coming.

[@a.sydney5036]

Why can't see just say "black women".

[@fvfr6294]

Because they keep trying to make us invisible!!

[@brookiesykes5216]

That's heartbreaking as a white woman I can't even imagine how it feels as a black woman knowing that you could die from just giving birth

[@asiam1528]

Black peoples always getting the shitty ends of the sick and have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, do better America

[@stopthesniff8676]

What about Men who die during pregnancy? Crickets

[@mepulley7913]

First answer - what is a man?

[@ceceprincess4758]

Men dont have babies

[@stopthesniff8676]

@@ceceprincess4758 transphobe

[@courtneyw6224]

You tried it lol

[@mepulley7913]

A man in China who thought he had a urinary problem was shocked to find out he was born intersex and has been menstruating for the last 20 years. Chen Li, 33, whose name has been changed, was told by doctors he was born with female sex chromosomes as well as ovaries and a uterus, despite having male genital organs.Jul 7, 2022