Black Maternal Health Week Part 2

In this second part of Black Maternal Health Week, host Lauren LaRosa continues her vital conversation with Dee Latham Thomas, a Black maternal health advocate and doula. The discussion centers on the emotional and practical preparation needed for childbirth, emphasizing that while Black women face disproportionate maternal health risks, they should not be deterred from motherhood. Latham Thomas highlights the importance of planning for worst-case scenarios—such as maternal or infant loss—with the help of bereavement doulas, who provide critical emotional and logistical support. She stresses that birth is a joyful, celebratory event and urges expectant mothers to protect their mental health by curating their media consumption and not internalizing every negative story. The episode also explores systemic inequities in healthcare, including disparities in cancer screening, earlier onset of perimenopause in Black women, and insurance apartheid that limits access to preventive care. Latham Thomas advocates for proactive patient engagement—researching providers, interviewing OBGYNs and midwives, and using tools like the Mama Glow shared decision-making platform and the Earth App to find culturally competent care. She underscores the power of community, encouraging women to build a 'birth village' of support and to prioritize both physical and emotional well-being throughout the reproductive journey.