6 Useful Tips for Black Dads in America’s Black Maternal Mortality Crisis

Expert: Jesse A. Davis, MD, MBA

I keep considering this question as a PhD student researching Black paternal health. I often reflect on how Black dads can help their partners get the healthcare they need. I analyze data, read reports, and study academic journals.

I’ve seen how important it is to advocate for a loved one in the hospital.

It’s no secret that systemic racism, racial discrimination, and implicit biases often undermine the quality of care that Black families receive, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Black fathers frequently share with me their experiences of seeking fair healthcare and supporting their families in a system that doesn’t always help them.

Black Fathers: Essential Advocates

In the United States, Black women disproportionately experience the highest maternal mortality rates. This tragic reality exemplifies the deep inequalities within our healthcare system.

The maternal mortality rate isn’t just a statistic – it is an indicator of access to quality healthcare, a gauge of healthcare infrastructure, entry into prenatal care, and a monitor of disparities in healthcare access and treatment. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, a 2024 Health E-Stats report states there was a decrease in the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women, from a staggering 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 to 49.5 in 2022.

Yet, even this decline leaves the rate far higher than the 2018 figure of 37.3, exposing the ongoing crisis in Black maternal health.

These troubling statistics reflect how America’s healthcare system often overlooks the needs of Black families, reinforcing Black Americans’ concerns about health disparities and their negative experiences with care. However, I believe Black fathers can play a transformative role in changing this by actively supporting their partners throughout the healthcare journey.

Being involved isn’t just about attending prenatal appointments and hospital visits; it’s about being a knowledgeable advocate, learning about maternal and infant health, asking thoughtful questions, and ensuring that your partner’s needs are heard in a healthcare system that too often neglects the treatment and care of Black families.

A mixed-methods research study from 2023 showed that Black fathers play a crucial role in maternal mental health by supporting their partners as advocates and challenging racism and other forms of oppression. The findings also indicated that the quality of the interparental relationship can serve as a protective factor.

America’s Black maternal mortality crisis isn’t just a women’s issue – it’s a family issue, a community issue, and a stark reminder of the systemic inequities that demand urgent action. For many Black mothers and birthing people, pregnancy milestones are fraught with higher risks of complications like preeclampsia, hemorrhage, infection, and even mortality. These disparities persist regardless of age, education, or socioeconomic status.

Black fathers bear witness to the devastating maternal health inequities that often plague their families. They experience the pain, grief, and trauma of adverse pregnancy outcomes – sometimes facing the unimaginable loss, or near loss, of their partners.

They see the challenges their partners endure and take an active role in navigating the medical maze of prenatal care and hospital visits. These fathers are not passive observers; they fight for access to quality care in a system that too often falls short.

Their role is vital, their compassion unwavering, and their efforts to secure respectful and equitable treatment are a powerful force for change in an unjust healthcare landscape.

The Toll: Tragic Examples

The importance of fatherly advocacy in maternal health cannot be overstated.

Tragically, numerous Black fathers have experienced the devastating consequences of the healthcare system failing their partners and families. Omari Maynard’s partner, Shamony Gibson, 30, passed away just two weeks after giving birth by C-section in 2019 due to complications that could have been prevented with better care and earlier intervention. Bruce McIntyre III’s partner, Amber Rose Isaac, 26, tragically died during an emergency C-section in 2020, highlighting neglect in maternal care.

Charles Johnson IV took his wife, Kira Dixon Johnson, 39, to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the birth of their second child. Tragically, Kira passed away from internal bleeding that continued for over 10 hours before medical staff intervened.

These painful stories are a powerful reminder of an unjust healthcare system in America. Many of these stories are not publicized in the national news or make their way to television or social media. Yet, in the face of these injustices, these Black fathers stepped up as fierce advocates.

So, I asked a colleague, “How can Black dads help their partners during prenatal care?”

Interview with Jesse A. Davis, MD, MBA

I recently spoke with Jesse A. Davis, MD, MBA, a newborn hospitalist at Washington University School of Medicine, who is also the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at the St. Louis Integrated Health Network. Dr. Davis, an expert in maternal and infant health, and father of two, shared thoughts on how Black fathers can navigate pregnancy and postpartum care amid the Black maternal mortality crisis.

When I asked Dr. Davis about the biggest challenges that Black fathers face during pregnancy and childbirth, he paused and thoughtfully responded. “For dads, the journey starts with imagining the child and what they’re going to be like and walking alongside their partner. The labor and delivery system wasn’t designed with fathers or partners in mind,” he explained.

I asked, “How can healthcare providers support Black fathers in the maternal health crisis?

The Challenge: Overcoming Invisibility

“One of the main issues that Black fathers face, specifically related to having sick children and pregnancy, is being heard while trying to support their partner,” Dr. Davis shared. “It’s about being heard.” Black fathers are often in the exam room, but their presence and role as supportive partners are frequently unacknowledged.

Dr. Davis pointed out, “Healthcare providers could recognize fathers and partners by actively involving them in family-centered care and talking about a home plan. What is the plan for support?”

Fathers, particularly Black fathers, are often overlooked in maternal health discussions. As Dr. Davis said, “It’s about being heard,” and I would add, “and being seen.”

Taking Action: 6 Useful Tips

We discussed practical tips for Black fathers considering starting a family and navigating a medical system that often ignores men’s perspectives. While individual efforts like education, advocacy, and persistence are critical, we know this fight is bigger than any one person. Tackling the maternal mortality crisis demands immediate systemic change and steadfast collective action to dismantle the barriers.

1. Prepare in Advance – Ask Questions and Learn About Maternal Health.
   Take some time to understand the basics of maternal and infant health from pregnancy milestones to potential complications. Before appointments, compile a list of questions or concerns you and your partner have. The more you know, the better you can support your partner and ask the right questions. It’ll help you feel more confident in the process.

2. Go to Appointments Together.
   Make it a priority to attend prenatal and postpartum appointments. Showing up not only shows your support but also helps you stay in the loop about what’s going on with your partner’s health. It’s a great way to stay connected and involved. 

3. Create a Birth Plan, a Home Plan, and Document Everything.

Work together to create a birth plan with preferences for labor, delivery, and postpartum care, including pain management and mental support needs. Advocate for culturally competent care. Keep a record of your partner’s medical history, including past pregnancies and conditions to make informed decisions. Create a gameplan for how you will approach early parenthood.

4. Understand Your Partner’s Rights.

Research the rights of pregnant individuals within the healthcare system, including the right to informed consent, privacy, and respectful care. Knowing these rights can help you advocate effectively for yourself, your partner, and family. This information is important for informed care and legal reasons.

5. Build a Support System and Connect with Resources.

Create a support system with other dads. Research local organizations, support groups, and doulas for Black families that focus on maternal health. Engage in support networks as you navigate pregnancy and postpartum.

6. Check in With Yourself.

It’s easy to put your own needs aside while focusing on your partner’s care, but make sure to check in with your own well-being. Take time for self-care, whether that’s through exercise, talking to a counselor, or leaning on your support system.

Dr. Davis emphasizes the importance of checking in with yourself, your partner, and other dads throughout the journey. He advises taking care of your mental health and being present in your partner’s experience are key. He urges, “You’re not alone in this – reach out, speak up, and support each other. It’s about being there, for yourself and for those around you.”

Final Thoughts

Black men, your voice matters. When you speak up, you can reassure your partner’s voice and their care and treatment. Trust your instincts.

Though I’m not a father yet, I’m a PhD student studying Black paternal health –  and I know the challenges that Black fathers face in supporting their partners, I see the weight of these disparities in data and research.

And I believe that when I do become a father, I’ll have a role to play in advocating for my partner’s care. I understand that the American healthcare system isn’t always on our side, and won’t be fixed in the near future, but I’m committed to making sure my partner gets the care and support she deserves every step of the way.

References: 

1. Birthing while black: Examining America’s Black Maternal Health Crisis: Hearing on Serial No. 117–20 before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives 117th (2021). https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO00/20210506/112580/HHRG-117-GO00-20210506-SD001.pdf
2. Ely, D. M., & Driscoll, A. K. (n.d.). Infant mortality in the United States, 2022: Data from the period linked birth/infant death file. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/157006
3. Funk, C. (2022, April 7). Black Americans’ views about health disparities, experiences with health care. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/04/07/black-americans-views-about-health-disparities-experiences-with-health-care/
4. Hill, L., Rao, A., Artiga, S., & Published, U. R. (2024, October 25). Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-efforts-to-address-them/
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