There is a long history of mistreatment or malpractice against Black bodies within the United States medical system. Francis Galton revolutionized institutionalized racism with his work catapulting the eugenics movement, the ‘Grandfather of Modern Genealogy’ James Marion Sims, once applauded for his work, now held in what could be described as national contempt for his experiments on enslaved women Anarcha, Lucy and Betsey.
While the U.S. has attempted to move beyond these dark histories, the current medical education is still deeply entrenched within institutionalized racism. The medical education in this country is long overdue to be rewritten, starting with motherhood.
Philadelphia’s Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) is taking the time to re-shape that narrative around labor work and birthing practices. Re-introducing this work to BIPOC individuals looking to step into this field, MCC recognizes the need to have Black and brown women at the forefront of labor work.
Founded in 1980, the Philadelphia MCC has worked to create safe spaces for expecting and new mothers as they embark on their parental journey. Providing resources such as diapers, clothing, food, as well as care expertise, the MCC’s primary work is supporting families in lower-income neighborhoods, infant mortality complications, as well as those living in changing immigration circumstances. The organization aids in labor work as well as provides doulas for additional support.
“As a doula, we do not do anything medical. It’s really just a support system for that pregnant mom [or] pregnant person. It’s giving them their resources, sharing information with them. While mom is in the hospital giving birth, maybe reminding them of their birth plan, helping them, being hands-on, giving massages, really trying to comfort them as much as you can during that time. And just having your whole focus on that pregnant person giving birth,” MCC doula Mahalia Sealy told THE BLOCK.
Those with experience giving birth know how crucial it is to have a stable and sympathetic support system. While hospitals can provide an astute team of midwives, nurses or doctors to provide care, many women still experience severe anxiety, even fear both before and after birth. It could be from the impending reality of childbirth or the fear of oversight on behalf of hospital staff—a phenomenon Black women face daily.
“The fear that a lot of women go into the hospital with, even though some women may come off as being really confident, [they] go in there and it’s still this fear, like, ‘I know what I want, but I may need to listen to whatever [the doctor] tells me because they know best.’ I think it’s a general fear that’s not spoken about,” Mahalia explained. “A lot of Black women, their voices, sometimes they’re not heard, or it’s just overlooked.”
MCC chooses to focus on BIPOC mothers and parents, acknowledging how well-established health institutions have a history of ignoring their needs.
What is so miraculous about [MCC] is its focus. It’s Black women, women of color. To get these women from the community, to help other women in the community. Instead of getting people from outside the community who do not look like you who have not experienced the same thing you’ve experienced
Mahalia Sealy
Finding comfort in likeness, Black and brown labor workers are able to empathize with the parents they’re working with, creating a safe environment built on the foundation of similar experiences. Black and brown folks, according to members of the MCC, need to be hyper-present in this work. Citing the historical traditions of doing labor work within Black communities, Naima Black, director of MCC’s community doula and breastfeeding program, is excited about seeing the change.
“The face of birth workers has shifted,” Naima shared. When asked about seeing more Black and brown women at the helm of this work, she expressed that while it is exciting, it’s hardly anything new.
“It’s not as if this [birth work] hasn’t been happening in your communities, but it’s been stifled,” Naima said. “Now, we need to get out of the way so that the movement can really move forward with Black and brown people leading it at the forefront.”
Both Naima and Mahalia articulate that, while the face of labor work changing is a progressive step, the work won’t have an impact if medical education remains unchanged.
“It’s based in a patriarchal, white male-oriented profession that grew in the early 1900s OBGYN. It’s based on racism,” Naima said.
Centering Black women in labor work is a step toward equity in maternal care. Black labor workers who understand the fear of Black maternal mortality rates or the fear of having their pain downplayed can provide the necessary care that BIPOCs don’t always receive or have a history of not being provided within systemic institutions of health.
“We can’t go back and change history, but we can change medical education,” Naima added.
A necessary change, MCC is leading the movement on wanting to see more inclusive and equitable birth work. By encouraging the work of Black and brown labor workers, MCC is making strides to see medical education progress with all people in mind.
