Black Maternal Health Division
The goal of BLM NH’s Maternal Health Programs is to educate, advocate, and uplift by bringing visibility to the alarming disparities Black women and women of color face in reproductive and maternal care. These disparities are not just statistics — they are costing lives, causing trauma, and leaving too many unseen and unheard within healthcare systems.
Black women are dying, being harmed, and dismissed at disproportionate rates — not because of biology, but because of systemic neglect and bias. BLM NH is committed to confronting this crisis head-on by raising awareness, demanding accountability, and working in collaboration with partners across the state to drive the systemic change our communities deserve.
YOUR PREGNANCY, YOUR POWER:
A Toolkit for Black Expecting Moms in New Hampshire
Black birthing individuals in the United States face significantly higher rates of pregnancy complications, maternal mortality, and dismissive treatment in healthcare settings. These disparities are not the result of individual choices—they are rooted in systemic racism, inequitable access to care, and longstanding bias within medical systems.
Your Pregnancy, Your Power was created by BLM New Hampshire to provide Black expecting parents and their support systems with knowledge, guidance, and tools to navigate pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period with confidence and support. This comprehensive toolkit centers the experiences of Black birthing people and recognizes that education, community, and advocacy are key to improving maternal health outcomes.
Inside the toolkit, families will find information on choosing culturally competent providers, understanding patient rights, creating birth plans, recognizing warning signs of complications, and advocating for respectful care in medical settings. It also includes guidance on postpartum recovery, mental health, grief and loss, emergency decision-making, and ways partners and support systems can play an active role in protecting the health and well-being of the birthing individual.
The toolkit was designed not only for expecting parents but also for partners, family members, doulas, and community supporters who want to help ensure safer and more empowering birth experiences. By equipping families with practical information and culturally grounded support, this resource aims to strengthen community knowledge and empower individuals to speak up, ask questions, and make informed decisions about their care.
At BLM New Hampshire, we believe that every Black birth deserves dignity, safety, and joy. This toolkit is part of our ongoing commitment to addressing racial disparities in maternal health and building a future where Black families can thrive.
View the toolkit here or ask for a printed copy by emailing info@blmnh.org.
Black Maternal Health Disparities: Key Data
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Maternal Mortality Rates (2023)
Black women experienced a maternal mortality rate of 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than White women (14.5), Hispanic women (12.4), and Asian women (10.7).
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Persistent Disparities
Black women are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. This disparity persists regardless of income or education level.
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Educational Impact
Black women with a college degree face higher pregnancy-related mortality rates than White women with less than a high school diploma, highlighting systemic issues beyond socioeconomic factors.
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Contributing Factors
Systemic racism, implicit bias in healthcare, and unequal access to quality care contribute to these disparities.
Join the BLMNH Maternal Health Committee
Join the BLMNH committee members working to improve Black maternal health through research, programs, and more.
Resources
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American Heart Association, Why Black Women are Less Likely to Survive Pregnancy
Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2023 Black Maternal Health Week
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hear Her Campaign
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality
KFF, Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them
National Public Radio, “Trying to Avoid Racist Health Care, Black Women Seek Out Black Obstetricians
Pew Research Center, Black Americans’ Views about Health Disparities
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Pregnant While Black: Advancing Justice for Maternal Health in America By Monique Rainford MD
Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis By Julia Chinyere Oparah, Helen Arega, Dantia Hudson, Linda Jones, Talita Oseguera
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Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Advocates for policies and practices that improve Black maternal health outcomes. https://blackmamasmatter.org
National Birth Equity Collaborative: Works to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.
Ancient Song Doula Services: Provides doula support and education to Black mothers. https://www.ancientsongdoulaservices.com/
Mamatoto Village: Offers culturally-competent maternal health services and resources.
Black Women's Health Imperative: Focuses on improving the health and well-being of African American women, including maternal health.
National Association of Black Nurses: Promotes culturally-sensitive nursing care for Black women.
Sisters of Color Doula Collective: Provides doula support and training to Black women.
The National Black Nurses Association: Advocates for policies and practices that improve the health of Black women and their families.
The Black Maternal Health Project: Conducts research and provides resources to address Black maternal mortality.
The Center for Health Equity Research and Policy: Works to reduce racial disparities in health care, including maternal health.
National Maternal Health Hotline https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline
HEAR™ HER is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's campaign to raise awareness of maternal mortality. Translated into multiple languages, help share their resources to save lives.
The National Partnership for Women & Families is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to change policy and culture. They spotlight the stories and raise a call-to-action in support of Black Maternal Health.
The mission of the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center (MHLIC) is to foster collaboration and learning among diverse stakeholders to accelerate evidence-informed interventions advancing equitable maternal health outcomes through engagement, innovation, and policy.
The Black Women's Health Imperative is dedicated to promoting physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being for the nation’s 19.5 million African American women and girls.
Every Mother Counts works to achieve quality, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all by giving grants and working with partners and thought leaders to increase awareness and mobilize communities to take action. They also make content, tools, and resources accessible.
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NH Perinatal Quality Collaborative at DH (NHPQC)
Reproductive equity now - NH
Repro Fund
Moms rising
The Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire
JOAN G. LOVERING HEALTH CENTER
ACLU of NH
Equality Health Center