The Back Maternity Experience Report Expert Panel
For Black Women, By Black Women.
The Black Maternity Experience Report was conducted by a team of all Black women, community organisations and health care professionals.
One of our key asks from the campaign is that Black women should be involved at all levels when it comes to making decisions about their care.
Read more about our expert panel below.
Dr Michelle Peter - Researcher and Social Scientist
Michelle has over a decade's worth of experience as a researcher. Her early research on one of the UK's largest longitudinal studies of children's language development, the Language 0-5 Project, used experimental methods to investigate the factors that impact children's early language development.
She continues to work closely with the BBC's Tiny Happy People campaign, providing consultancy on language and literacy in the early years. Her research now explores the social and ethical considerations involved in implementing prenatal and paediatric genetic tests into routine NHS care, with a focus on how to make the services that offer these tests equitable and accessible to all.
As a Black researcher, but foremost as a Black mother, she has a personal interest in the drivers behind the racial inequalities we see in maternal health, and is honoured to have contributed to Five X More's commitment to change these outcomes.
Reyss Wheeler - Social Care Consultant & Researcher
Reyss is a Qualified Independent Social Worker and Inequalities researcher working closely with the non-profit sector to provide support to people impacted by UK and global inequality.
As an alumni of The London School of Economics and The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, her trauma-informed research focuses on the lived-experience of the Black diaspora and Global Majority people in the UK. Approaching 10 years experience, she provides tailored support to people facing racial, gender, disability & socioeconomic barriers.
Reyss works jointly with communities in East London to increase access to employment, health and advice services as she continues to pursue her passion of resolving inequality through evidence-based initiatives.
Dr Adanna Okeahialam - Obstetrics & Gynaecology Doctor
Adanna is an Obstetrics & Gynaecology Doctor and currently a Urogynaecology Clinical Research in a South London Hospital. Her areas of interest are endoanal and pelvic floor ultrasound. At present she is also registered as a postgraduate student completing an MD thesis on obstetric anal sphincter injuries and perineal wound infection . Not only does she a have passion for research and education but is also using this passion to improve the wellbeing of black women during and after pregnancy.
Black Ballad
Black Ballad is a UK based lifestyle platform that seeks to tell the human experience through the eyes of black British women.
Black Ballad elevates the voices of black British women through content, community and commerce.
Black Mothers Matter
Black Mothers Matter is on a mission to create dedicated resources, a platform and safe space for black mothers to get information and support on the issues faced by them during pregnancy and the first year after birth.
Black Mums Upfront
Black Mums Upfront is a London based collective. We talk candidly about our experiences and we laugh a lot. We like to share, support and empower. We also like to challenge stereotypes, make motherhood inclusive and tackle head-on issues of inequality and disproportionality. Black Mums Upfront believe all Black mothers need to be heard, seen and valued - Because change doesn’t happen without realness.
ChatHerBox
ChatHerBox is a collaboration between Doctor’s Jennifer Owusu Adjei and Remi Mogekwu, two black female trainee doctors in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. It was started in response to the racial disparities we unfortunately see daily in our field of work. The outcomes for black women in Obstetrics and Gynaecology are significantly worse than their white counterparts. We recognise the reasons for this are multifactorial, but as doctors who are passionate about women’s health and women’s health rights, particularly those of black women, being black women ourselves, we believe we need to be the voice to change the narrative.
The aim of ChatHerBox is too educate and empower black women to make informed choices about their care and move away from medical paternalism. We provide women a safe platform to speak freely, ask questions and learn about their health rights.
Dr Christine Ekechi - Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Christine Ekechi is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London and RCOG spokesperson for racial equality
Dr Christine Ekechi specialises in early pregnancy and acute gynaecology care.
Dr Adwoa Danso - GP and Founder of Clinic Diaries
Dr. Danso is a GP and runs The Clinic Diaries – a social media platform that discusses health and clinical issues, and where she has recently been using this space to be vocal on BLM and COVID-19.
Dr. Danso is also the Executive Officer of the Ghana Doctors and Dentists Association UK as well as being the resident doctor hosting ‘The Medical Show’ on GN Radio, a radio station for Britain’s Ghanaian community, and she is also a graduate of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Elaine Amoah - Assistant Psychologist
Assistant Psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Elaine has many years of experience working with women, children and families professionally and therapeutically.
Elaine has a special interest in perinatal mental health and is passionate about working to address the disparities in maternal and perinatal mental health care for Black women.
Janet Fyle - Professional Policy Advisor at Royal College of Midwives
Janet’s background is in midwifery and women and children's health. She has worked on a variety of health and social issues which affect women and children, and with diverse organisations and groups ranging from the, Department of Health, NHS bodies, NGOs, charities, Mayor of London, the Home Office, Medical Royal Colleges and a variety of key organisations. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH).
Jenny Douglas - Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion
Jenny Douglas is a Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies at the Open University and chair of the Black Women’s Health and Wellbeing Research Network. She has a PhD in Women’s Studies from the University of York, an MA in Sociological Research in Health Care from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Environmental Pollution Control from the University of Leeds and a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology and Virology from the University of Warwick. She is module lead of the K311 – ‘Promoting Public Health’, is an honorary member of the Faculty of Public Health and is a director of the UK Public Health Register.
Holding Her Space
Holding her space is a doula service providing emotional, educational and mental support to women and families throughout the prenatal, birth and postpartum stages of pregnancy and motherhood.
Mary Dehinbo- Consultant Midwife
In 2020 Mary was awarded the silver CMidO for midwifery excellence for her exceptional contribution by the country’s most senior midwife Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE.
Mary is passionate about reducing inequalities in maternal health and an advocate for women and birthing people's choices.
Midwife Marley
Marley has practised midwifery in various settings throughout London and Surrey over the past 10 years covering both the NHS and private sectors.
During her time within the NHS, she covered all aspects of midwifery care including antenatal care as a community midwife, labour and birth care on both birthing suites & birth centres and postnatal care on both the ward and in the community.
Marley currently work as a midwife outside of the NHS providing support to new and expectants both on and offline and is dedicated to ensure that prenatal education is inclusive of all birthing people, paying particular attention to those from marginalised backgrounds.
Mums Pride
Mum’s Pride (@mums_prideteam on Instagram) is a platform for mothers from different backgrounds and walks in life where they can feel safe, supported and encouraged.
During these unprecedented times Mum’s Pride has been involved in meetings with local MPs to discuss matters regarding mental health and early learning of our children. As we know Covid19 has allowed a lot of discrepancies to come to light, Mum’s Pride has been part of important conversations in the community.
Mum’s Pride also has Doctors group to help and correctly signpost mothers in need. Especially during this pandemic it has been beneficial to have mothers helping to filter and explain governmental and medical guidelines.
Mums and Tea
Mums and Tea is an honest platform for Black Mums. They have recently launched an online Communi-TEA to connects mums and empowers them in motherhood, business, careers and everything else in-between.
Professional Aunty
Qualified Midwife, Specialist in Public Health and best of all a Mother.
On our unique journey of parenting we realised the gaps and support we felt parents needed. Professional Aunty was derived to make this journey that has its ups and down as smooth as possible by having someone who can do some of the hard work for you.
Our Mission is to Support, Assist and Guide you along your journey, by providing you with products and flexible services made fun!
Prosperitys
Prosperitys provides free support to Black and Brown women during the perinatal period and is passionate about maternal wellbeing.
Ruth Oshikanlu
Ruth is a multi-award winning nurse leader, entrepreneur and parenting expert, with a specialism in supporting pregnant women who have had assisted conception or pregnancy loss and enabling children that have had adverse childhood experiences. With over twenty five years experience as a nurse, midwife and health visitor, she has supported thousands of women and children from before conception through to the teenage years.
Sisters in Business
Sisters in Business is a network of women who inspire, connect and elevate each other in business. Sisters In Business (SIB) supports Muslim women, providing them with the tools they need. We hold regular networking events, both online & in person, along with workshops. We also offer business coaching to help women grow their vision into scalable & sustainable businesses.