We’re celebrating a different type of Black Friday today by sharing four resources that we want ALL black families to know exist! With all the scary statistics about maternal and infant mortality and morbidity for black families here in the United States, we know that getting pregnant, giving birth, and getting through postpartum can be a stressful time. Honestly, the statistics that are constantly bantered around scare us too, but instead of focusing on the problem, we’d like to take the time to focus on solutions specifically developed by members of the black community for black families. Even if you don’t identify as black, you should honestly know about these resources too!
Irth App
Conceptualized by author and activist Kimberly Seals Allers, the Irth App aims to knock out racism in maternity care. Through reviews by black and brown families, you can search your area for providers from pregnancy through pediatrics. I love that they are also turning those reviews around to push for policy changes at the systemic level too. This tool is only as good as the information we give it, so if you have experienced racism in your care at a specific hospital or with a specific provider please share your experience in the app. This is a tool for disrupting the system that protects the powerful.
Count the Kicks
Have you ever worried about your baby’s movements but counting them is confusing? Worried about your concerns being dismissed? Count the Kicks is an outstanding resource for ALL families that not only educates you about baby’s movements, but also documents them for you to be able to share with your provider or anyone caring for you in the healthcare system. This app will track the trends of your baby’s movement so that you have a record to be able to pull up to show anyone asking. I love this app especially for black families, because sadly the risk of you concerns being dismissed can become too real, and this helps you have a tool to point to data.
Reproductive Health Impact
Looking for resources on respectful maternity care and things to think about when you are building your maternity care team? Reproductive Health Impact has you covered! This outstanding non-profit is doing the work in not only advocacy but also capacity and power-building within the black community. Their work on reproductive health equity is widely celebrated, especially for their focus on black produced scholarship, activism, and experiences. If you work in healthcare, they are also developing tools to help reduce inequity and improve birth outcomes for black families. Check out their resources, and definitely keep them on your donation list!
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Working to shift culture so that black families can THRIVE is what Black Mamas Matter Alliance is doing, and that is no easy task. Through advocacy, education, scholarship, and policy work BMMA places black voices and experiences at the center of their work. The resources & literature available on their website are helpful for all black families looking for how to navigate the healthcare system. If you are looking for how to not only come out alive but how to thrive, BMMA is a great place to start that journey by and for black families.
Being anti-racist in a capitalist patriarchy to us means being cautious about where we put our money, time, and all other types of support. There are plenty of other amazing resources out there too, 4Kira4Moms for example, and these four resources listed above could definitely send you down an entire rabbit-hole of information. These four resources specifically are by and for black families and help put tools in black families’ hands. We know that having someone on your team who understands your experience from the inside is invaluable, and these resources are excellent parts to add to that equation that can help your entire experience add up to one of JOY!