Jessica

** TRIGGER WARNING. THIS BLOG POST INCLUDES DISCUSSION OF TRAUMATIC AND DIFFICULT BIRTHING EXPERIENCES WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING **

Recently, I have been replaying my labour multiple times in my head and thinking of the statistic of, “black women being five times more likely to die at childbirth”, which has been broadcasted on my Instagram timeline. 

I gave birth to my daughter at the end of May via induction due to cholestasis. To cut the long story short, I gave birth on the same day I was induced. 

My midwife rarely came to see how my labour was progressing and she checked how dilated I was two times during the space of nine hours. 

As I was induced, I was in the maternity ward and I was to be brought downstairs, to labour ward, when I was 4cm dilated. This was not the case with my labour. Instead, I was in the maternity ward right up till I needed to push. 

After my birthing partners persistently requested for my midwife to come to see me, as they believed my water broke. My midwife reluctantly came, after a few times of being requested, to be shocked to find me on the shower floor, fully dilated with my daughters head showing. 

A different midwife intervened, who I am grateful for, and told me that I could not push yet, which I am sure many of you are aware that it is extremely difficult and dangerous. I was told that I was to be brought down to labour ward to give birth. 

As I had such amazing birth partners with me, my experience was slightly less dreadful, nonetheless I was left feeling traumatised and I knew that a complaint had to be made. 

I have now made my complaint and I am in talks with the complaints team. 

*sidenote: 

It is exceedingly important that those who are concerned with their care which they have received make a complaint, regardless if they believe their complaint will be taken seriously or not. 

This is due to the fact that multiple complaints, just like a snowball effect, will eventually make an impact. If people do not complain then the poor care will be given to many other individuals. 

The main issue here is that I am a young black woman who was clearly not respected and taken seriously. Person centred care went right out of the window! 

This is concerning as, though many people would not like to admit this, it shows that covert racism, oppression and ignorance is very much alive. 

To make matters worse, these statistics have not been brought to a lot of people’s attention, they have not been plastered everywhere, this shows the lack of care for black women in society. 

It is crucial that black people, especially black women in this circumstance, educate themselves in a range of public matters as it enables themselves to feel confident to communicate about a range of concerns. 

We need to build our community and bring awareness to other black people about our past and present and the various obstacles we have encountered. 

This issue of black women being five times more likely to die at childbirth, unfortunately is not a brand new statistic, it is only now being brought to light, this issue is repeating itself. 

I hope after reading this that you feel empowered to communicate about your concerns. 

Instagram: blossomingmums