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Community event in the Bronx spotlights maternal-health disparities and birth trauma
Summary
At an "And Still We Birth" community event in the Bronx, panelists, doulas and parents described birth-related trauma and unequal maternal outcomes; a reporter cited New York City health data showing higher pregnancy-related mortality among Black women and called for expanded prenatal and postpartum care.
A community event titled "And Still We Birth" brought parents, doulas and reproductive-health specialists together in the Bronx to share birth stories and press for improved prenatal and postpartum care.
Nicole Rosado, reporting for Bronson, said the event emphasized how births can be both a life-changing and traumatic experience for many. "Studies estimate that between about one-third and one-half of people who give birth report experiencing the event as psychologically traumatic," a presenter told attendees, adding that trauma often stems from not feeling seen or informed during care. The presenter said, "It felt like something was happening to them as opposed to with them."
Rosado cited data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene showing wide racial disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes, saying Black women in the city are "9.2 more likely than white women to die as a result of pregnancy problems." Rosado reported that panelists said that disparity is amplified in the Bronx because many residents face limited access to prenatal and postpartum services.
Panelists and attendees described peer support and education as key tools. One panelist shared a personal memory from her first pregnancy and urged others not to feel alone: "You're not the 1st and you won't be the last, and you will get through it," she said. Speakers included parents with lived experience, doulas and local reproductive-health specialists, the moderator said when introducing the panel.
Organizers framed the evening as both a celebration of the resilience of people who give birth and a call to action to address systemic inequalities in maternal care. The event concluded with appeals for better information, advocacy and expanded services in the Bronx.
