OUR WHY:

It may be shocking to hear but the U.S. has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world, with approximately 50 other countries losing FEWER mothers than we do.

And if the fact that we have the highest maternal and infant mortality rates among comparable countries isn't bad enough, survival rates for Black women and their infants are even more alarming. Black women, across the income spectrum and including those who are highly educated and have adequate access to healthcare, are dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications at 3-4 times the rate of non-Hispanic white women. In addition, Black infants are at least TWICE AS LIKELY to die before their first birthday than white infants. This is a crisis of epic proportions. Black mothers and babies are literally dying at alarming rates, and the reason? The effects of systemic racism on the Black body. Yes, THAT is the reason.

Several studies have shown this to be true. When factors such as SES and education level and access to prenatal care are all controlled for, Black women STILL die at the same rates....let that sink in for a second.....the day to day experience of just living while Black in this country puts so much accumulated stress on the body that women are more likely to go into preterm labor and develop other complications that lead to perinatal mortality.

Obviously the solution to this is complex, but we believe that one very powerful way to mitigate these outcomes is to ensure access to midwifery care for Black women. Holistic prenatal care from a loving, compassionate midwife has been shown to reduce these disparities. In addition, outcomes are better when women are able to work with healthcare providers who look like them and understand their cultural experience.

**If you are interested in reading more about this, check out Jenni Joseph, a Black midwife in Florida who speaks extensively on this topic and owns a birth center that has put these ideas into practice and has seen incredible outcomes

Our goal is to raise money to help offset the costs of home birth for Black women in the Austin area. In addition, since it is critical that more Black midwives are trained and licensed (currently only 2-3% of midwives are Black in the U.S.), funds will also be given to Black student midwives to help support them in their training. Apprenticeships are unpaid, and it is a very long and challenging road to become a licensed midwife. Mitigating financial stressors is one impactful way to help those training, cross the finish line.