In a concerted effort to shine a light on the critical role of Black midwives in healthcare, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Laphonza Butler, alongside U.S. Representatives Alma Adams and Gwen Moore, have introduced a resolution to dedicate March 14th as Black Midwives Day, as reported by Senator Booker's official Senate page. The resolution celebrates these healthcare professionals for their tireless efforts toward reproductive justice and improving maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly within the Black community.
According to the same source, Black Americans are disproportionately affected by maternal health crises, with rates of maternal mortality and morbidity being roughly twice as high as those among white Americans; senators and representatives behind the initiative see the acknowledgment of Black Midwives Day as a step towards addressing these disparities and an endorsement of the benefits of the Midwifery Model of Care which include reduced infant mortality and preterm births. "Investing in Black midwives is crucial for addressing the maternal health crisis, especially among Black Americans," Senator Booker said, stressing the importance of Black midwives in battling the dearth of maternity care resources in underserved areas, in a statement obtained by his Senate page.
"I am proud to co-lead the effort to recognize March 14 as Black Midwives Day," Senator Butler expressed, underscoring the culturally sensitive care provided by Black midwives, which is crucial for pregnant women and their families, her sentiment echoed in the official press release. Congresswoman Adams highlighted the importance of advocacy during childbirth, which midwives offer, aiding in a less stressful and less dangerous experience for Black mothers, according to the same source.
The resolution seeks not only to honor but also to integrate fully Black midwives into the maternity care system to combat healthcare inequities and the acute scarcity of maternity care resources Congresswoman Moore articulated her excitement in joining this initiative, a sentiment reflected on Senator Booker's Senate page. Jamarah Amani of the National Black Midwives Alliance lauded the move to support holistic care led by Black midwives, calling it crucial for addressing the maternal and infant health crisis among Black Americans. The Center for Reproductive Rights also chimed in with praise, with Breana N. Lipscomb urging Congress to fund programs creating midwifery pathways and to build a healthcare system embracing every birth with "compassion, dignity, and respect," in her words shared in the press release.
