CAUSE
Advancing Birth Equity on Maryland's Eastern Shore
THE PROBLEM
The obstetric racism that we see in the United States today is an evolution of the historical and systemic abuse that has been woven into the modern healthcare infrastructure. A system that once saw Black women's bodies as test subjects and our ancestral wisdom as intellectually inferior has shape-shifted into one that regularly dismisses Black women's health concerns and too often encourages unnecessary interventions. Rural Maryland is not exempt from these realities.
With just one hospital with a labor and delivery unit, no freestanding birth centers, and only one OB/GYN practice serving the tri-county area, birthing people on the lower Shore are facing reduced access to care. Somerset County specifically has been considered a maternity care desert by the March of Dimes.
2024, Maryland Department of Health
of Cesarean deliveries at TidalHealth were for Black infants, the highest of all races.
31%
of all deliveries at TidalHealth were covered by Medicaid.
59%
Black individuals at TidalHealth were more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity at 3.1%, higher than the statewide rate of 2.7%
3.1%
A future where all Black mamas and birthing people are safe, healthy, and free to experience pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence, support, and joy.
our vision for birth equity :
OUR APPROACH
We echo the sentiment shared by many social justice organizers in that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. We strongly believe that strategies proposed to improve Black maternal health must involve the participation and leadership of Black women. Through education, collaboration, and direct support, we're working to shift the narratives around birth and the outcomes for Black birthing people.
Are you a Black woman who has experienced pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care on Maryland's Eastern Shore? We want to hear from you! Your experiences can help strenghten our offerings, shape policies and improve care for Black mamas.
We are currently building out our maternal health directory. This will be housed here on our website, as well as available in PDF format. If you are a birthworker and/or provide services to Black mamas and birthing people on Maryland's Eastern Shore, please complete our directory form here.
Resources
black-owned
faith-based
lgbtq+ friendly
disability
accessible
Languages: English, Spanish, some French and Hindi
Cost & Payment Options: Sliding scale and payment plans; does not accept insurance or Medicaid at this time.
Reproductive care services for preconception, birth, labor, and postpartum. Traditional midwifery, birth keeping, and placenta services. Serving Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. In-person and virtual.
Owner: Joyell Johnson
The Mangrove Midwife
holistic
TRAUMA-INFORMED
black-owned
lgbtq+ friendly
Connect: Email
Languages: English
Cost & Payment Options: Will be Medicaid approved, & accept payment in full, as well as payment plans
Provides informational, emotional & physical support to birthing people. Services include childbirth education, appointment accompaniment, labor prep, labor & delivery. support, as well as postpartum care up to 6 weeks, both in person or virtually.
Owner: Sheiron Crawford-Mackritis
M’Powered Birth, Doula Services
TRAUMA-INFORMED
