The third annual Black Maternal and Infant Health Conference brought together healthcare providers from across the Triangle.
Data shows the majority of maternal deaths occur after a mother leaves the hospital, but coming together inside the McKimmon Center, local healthcare providers were working to change that, and provide better care to the women most at risk.
“I’d say 90% of the patients, the women I care of, fall into that high-risk category,” said Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson.
Benoit-Wilson
has been in practice for over 25 years and said most women are not aware of what
their risks are.
“One
of the studies that have been done in the past has shown women who have had
high blood pressure issues either prior to pregnancy or during pregnancy don’t
realize the increased risk that they have with the next pregnancy, or even lifelong,”
Benoit-Wilson said.
She
said it’s one of the educational pieces that is so important for people to be
aware of.
“The
impact of pregnancy changes, and the complications that can potentially occur,
not only during pregnancy but well after you’ve even delivered.”
By knowing the risk factors, Benoit-Wilson said, is one of the biggest ways providers and patients can work together to improve health outcomes.
“If
we’re all in the same room and we’re talking about what aspect of care that we’re
helping to provide, we can provide a more holistic framework for women to feel
safer being pregnant in the state of North Carolina,” she added.
The practicing OB/GYN was one of hundreds of local providers and community leaders attending the Black Maternal and Infant Health Conference.
Along with OBs, doulas, midwives, therapists, and researchers discussed how to recognize signs of things like high blood pressure, heart health, mental health, and domestic violence.
“If we are all aware of some of the complications that can potentially occur after delivery, and we educate ourselves on what those are and what those signs are, we can all work collaboratively to make sure we’re encouraging women to go into see their OB/GYN or midwife to get a blood pressure check, to get an incision check, to call with any concerns, to get a mood screening.”
Breakout sessions also included discussions surrounding support for Black fathers and prioritizing the mental wellbeing of the family.
