Session 459: The Postpartum Conversation You Need to Hear
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In this powerful episode of Therapy for Black Girls, host Dr. Joy Harden-Bradford welcomes back Dr. Sharon Malone to explore the critical yet often overlooked realities of Black maternal health, especially during and after pregnancy. The conversation centers on the historical roots of medical bias against Black women, from the unethical experimentation of J. Marion Sims to the lasting legacy of systemic racism in healthcare. Dr. Malone emphasizes that 50% of maternal deaths occur after delivery, highlighting the dangerous gap in postpartum care and the need for continuous monitoring beyond the hospital stay. She stresses the importance of recognizing red flags like persistent headaches, swelling above the waist, and elevated blood pressure—especially given that preeclampsia and other cardiovascular complications disproportionately affect Black women. The discussion also addresses how social determinants of health, such as chronic stress and food insecurity, contribute to what researchers call 'weathering,' accelerating biological aging and increasing health risks. Dr. Malone urges women to advocate for themselves, know their bodies, and seek care that acknowledges their lived experiences, while also calling on healthcare providers and AI developers to confront and eliminate long-standing biases in medicine and technology. The episode concludes with practical advice on preconception health, the realities of advanced maternal age, and the importance of self-advocacy and community support.
Fifty percent of maternal deaths occur after delivery, making postpartum care a critical but often neglected phase.
Preeclampsia and other cardiovascular complications are more common in Black women and can emerge after childbirth—know the warning signs like severe headaches, swelling above the waist, and high blood pressure.
Chronic stress from systemic racism ('weathering') accelerates biological aging and increases health risks, even before pregnancy.
Self-advocacy is essential: if your concerns are dismissed, escalate to a provider directly and don’t accept vague reassurances.
Preconception health matters—managing weight, blood pressure, and nutrition before pregnancy can reduce risks.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction to Black Maternal Health Week & the Importance of Centering Black Women
“We're never centered in the conversation. I think that refocusing the conversation, sort of changing the lens a little bit such that we put black women in the center, it helps.”
Historical Roots of Medical Bias: From J. Marion Sims to Tuskegee
“The notion that the medical profession was complicit. We weren't just complicit, I should say we were out there advocating that Black women and Black people were inferior and thus their health problems... were not because of anything we were doing.”
The Postpartum Crisis: Why 50% of Maternal Deaths Happen After Delivery
“It's extremely harmful when the fact is that 50% of maternal deaths occur out of the hospital. And there is this gap in the hospital where patients are being monitored... not by doctors, but by skilled nursing staff and people who will listen and understand.”
Recognizing Red Flags: Preeclampsia, High Blood Pressure & Warning Signs
Dr. Malone details the signs of preeclampsia—severe headaches, swelling above the waist, vision changes—and emphasizes that high blood pressure is now defined as 120/80, not 140/90.
Advocating for Yourself: Escalating Concerns When Dismissed
Practical guidance is offered on how to escalate concerns when healthcare providers downplay symptoms, including asking to speak directly to a doctor or seeking a second opinion.
“The notion that the medical profession was complicit. We weren't just complicit, I should say we were out there advocating that Black women and Black people were inferior and thus their health problems... were not because of anything we were doing.”
“Chronic pain is not normal. Being fatigued is not normal. If you can't get out of bed in the morning and you're moving around and you're slow and you're sluggish, not normal, not normal.”
“We're never centered in the conversation. I think that refocusing the conversation, sort of changing the lens a little bit such that we put black women in the center, it helps.”
Host
Guest
Preeclampsia
other
Dr. Joy Harden-Bradford
person
Therapy for Black Girls
media
Dr. Sharon Malone
person
Weathering
other
J. Marion Sims
person
Interoception
other
Grown Woman Talk
book
Henrietta Lacks
person
Eclampsia
other
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