SAN ANTONIO — Black women are more likely to have fatal complications during pregnancy. It's issue that has mothers speaking out. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to a JAMA Network study, from 1999 to 2019, the number of maternal deaths in Texas doubled. In that 20-year span, Black Texans have experienced one of the highest death increases across the country

  • Dr. Nicole Carr experienced these health disparities firsthand when choosing a hospital birth for her second pregnancy. At her 33-week checkup, her baby boy had no heartbeat

  • Carr helped produce a documentary called "High Risk," which addresses the rising maternal mortality rate among Black women in the U.S.

  • According to the CDC, more than 80% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Other contributing factors are access to quality health care, underlying conditions and implicit bias

“Not good in Texas, said Dr. Nicole Carr. “It’s one of the roughest places to have a child. Especially if you’re a Black woman."

Pregnancy can be dangerous. But according to medical research, it’s becoming especially risky for Black moms and babies.

“It’s one of the states that struggles with infant mortality as well as maternal mortality,” said Carr.

According to a JAMA Network study, from 1999 to 2019, the number of maternal deaths in Texas doubled. In that 20-year span, Black Texans have experienced one of the highest death increases across the country.

“I would say it’s obstetric racism,” Carr said. “It’s the idea that when a Black woman goes into the hospital that she doesn’t know her body. That we don’t care what she has to say. So, when she tells us she’s in pain, we don’t listen.”

Carr is an English professor at Texas A&M San Antonio. In 2016, she experienced these health disparities when choosing a hospital birth for her second pregnancy. 

“I went with what I thought was the safer option,” Carr said. “The traditional option. Even though I felt like the connection with my midwife was very special. And that was the reason why my daughter survived. Whereas my son did not.”

She says several times she expressed something feeling off with her doctor. But at her 33-week checkup, her baby boy had no heartbeat.

“I was somewhat intimidated,” Carr said. “Even though I have a Ph.D., I was intimidated. She’s the doctor so she knows what she’s talking about.”

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Public health administrators in San Antonio are spreading the word. 

“It’s necessary for us to empower our Black moms to not be afraid,” said Sian Elmore, public health administrator for Metro Health. “Speak up for yourself. If you’re hurting and you’re given the wrong answer, you keep going. You keep stating over and over. This is a problem.”

According to the CDC, more than 80% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Other contributing factors are access to quality health care, underlying conditions and implicit bias.

“The issue is they are going to the hospital just to give birth and they’re dying,” Elmore said. 

Carr helped produce a documentary called "High Risk," which addresses the rising maternal mortality rate among Black women in the U.S.

“From the loss of him I just wanted to create a space for other Black women and other birth givers to tell their story,” Carr said.

Carr hopes Texas health care providers will offer more proactive solutions for expecting mothers.

“Most times they know what’s going on,” Carr said. “It’s just they need the medical health professional to come in and give them the medication or give them the treatment immediately.”