Dear friends, 

Becoming a mother is an incredibly personal and life-changing journey. Yet for many mothers, worrying about accessing quality care for both mother and baby can overshadow the beauty and joy that should be part of this transformation. 

Through my role leading DEI efforts for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), I was aware of the data around systemic inequities before I became a mom to my beautiful baby Talía in 2022. Shortly before my pregnancy journey began, my perspective was featured on BCBSRI’s blog, in a post where I shared the stark reality of prenatal and postpartum care as a woman of color, and how this impacted my own experiences beginning my journey to parenthood. 

According to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics that was released in March of 2023, the situation has worsened since I shared my thoughts. Maternal death rates in the United States increased dramatically from 2020 to 2021, and rates among Black women were 2.6 times as high as those of white women (69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births vs. 26.6 per 100,000). 

This week (April 11 - 17, 2023) is Black Maternal Health Week, a national campaign designed to build awareness, activism, and community around the perspectives and lived experiences of Black mothers and birthing people. In response to the alarming rise of maternal mortality in the United States during the pandemic, and the inequities in maternal health care which have always existed, this year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” 

My personal journey to motherhood taught me the importance of a strong support system with many potential participants: doctor; midwife; doula; nurses; family members; support partner; etc. I also realized the incredible role that a doula can play, and the importance of flexibility and accommodation on the part of workplaces (and managers) in keeping employees happy and invested throughout their journey to parenthood. I recently had the opportunity to interview my doula, Emerald Ortiz, who shared her thoughts on this process. You can check out our conversation here. 

You might be wondering–how can I raise awareness and make actionable changes within my sphere of influence? 

My employer, BCBSRI, takes active measures to increase employee education around maternal healthcare, from pre-pregnancy through postpartum.

• Our Parents @ Work Employee Business Resource Group helps employees balance both their career and caring for their loved ones.
  
  
• Our employee assistance program addresses the five tenets of wellbeing–emotional, physical, financial, community, and resilience.
  
  
• We offer 20 weeks of parental leave, in addition to the TDI/TCI available to employees who are Rhode Island residents.
  
  
• There are private Lactation Suites in the office for breastfeeding employees. 
  
  
• We produce educational programs for employees on issues tied to maternal health, such as doulas, pregnancy, and infant loss awareness. 

We’re also able to impact change within our community of BCBSRI members (learn more here):

• In 2022 we launched a high-risk maternal health program that aims to reduce the risk of preterm births, low birth weights, and pregnancy-related complications by providing expectant mothers with the necessary information, tools, and resources. 
  
  
• BCBSRI members in fully insured health plans can be reimbursed for doula services up to $1,500. As of April 2023, we have 30 doulas in our network, and we plan to continue to grow that number and increase the number of doulas of color within our network. 

All expectant parents–and particularly Black parents and others who face statistically less safe birth outcomes–deserve to move closer to joy and autonomy in their journey to parenthood. By recognizing and addressing gaps in education, awareness, and access, we can work together to address inequities and reverse these alarming trends. 

Yours in Equity,

Jenny Bautista-Ravreby
DAIP Board of Directors

Here are resources to drive your continued learning and growth. 

READ 5 Ways Managers Can Support Pregnant Employees examines how pregnancy discrimination still occurs frequently in the U.S., and new research shows that it may be linked to poor health outcomes for mothers. This article outlines actionable strategies employers can adopt to reduce detrimental health and well-being outcomes for pregnant employees. 

READ The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect on June 27, 2023. This article from A Better Balance outlines everything you need to know about this law, which will ensure pregnant and postpartum workers are not forced off the job, and get the accommodations they need without facing discrimination or retaliation in the workplace. 

WATCH this PBS segment on Black Maternal Health, which outlines how medical care, pregnancy, and birthing still put women of color at high risk, and what advocates are doing to break down systemic racism within maternal health care, such as proposing new initiatives towards doula services, establishing birth centers, and support to decrease infant mortality rates.

WATCH recordings of DAIP's 2022 programming in response to the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as you consider maternal health disparities during Black Maternal Health Week. Our conversation with a legal expert on reproductive rights (What comes after Roe v. Wade for the workplace?) highlighted potential impacts to HR professionals and employees, and our follow-up panel discussion (Roe v. Wade Overturned: Individual, Workforce, and Societal Impacts) explored disproportionate impacts, the risk of losing other rights, and the professional challenges facing healthcare providers and HR practitioners. 

LISTEN to this episode of the Maternal Health Innovation podcast with Dr. Rahmatu Kassimu to learn about the legacy of Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project (MAP), which is on a mission to create a world in which Black women are heard, respected and cared for in their birthing processes.