Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is a week that highlights the importance of maternal health, especially as it pertains to the African American community. It is observed annually from April 11th to April 17th and is an important campaign founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Its purpose is to bring attention to maternal health outcomes for Black women and to work towards increasing healthy experiences with pregnancy and childbirth for Black women. It is important to recognize the importance of better maternal health in Black families for the following reasons:
Statistics: In the United States, African American women are far more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as opposed to women of other ethnic groups.
Economic Benefits: Healthy pregnancies and other improvements in maternal health outcomes can significantly reduce health care costs.
Civil Liberties: It is a human right to be able to have access to maternal health care that is safe, effective, and ethical.
Family Impact: Poor maternal health care can be lethal, ripping away women from their families and resulting in children having to grow up without their mothers in their lives. Improving maternal health outcomes can lead to a better sense of well-being in African American families.
DePaul’s Infant Empowerment and Education Program (DIEEP) aligns perfectly with the goals of BMHW. DIEEP initiatives focus on creating better access to maternal health resources, such as breastfeeding support, maternal mental health education, and compliance with workplace policies like the PUMP Act, which supports working mothers who nurse. These efforts help to ensure that all women receive respectful and high-quality care throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Through community outreach and other initiatives, both BMHW and DIEEP work toward a common goal: a future where every mother has an equal opportunity to have a healthy journey with pregnancy and parenthood.
Infant care... Just for you.
