VM: Absolutely! I think that, sometimes, this message gets lost in all of the politics. After all, the topic of pregnancy is often spoken about in the public sphere in relation to religion, government and social culture. But, no matter what your stance is on political issues, no one can argue against the importance of healthy behaviors during pregnancy, especially for African American women.
EB: That’s important to mention because, again and again, the numbers show that Black women experience higher rates of both maternal and infant mortality here in the U.S. It’s clear that we need to center conversations about pregnancy around health first and politics second.
VM: That’s a great point, Ms. Bush. So, what would be your advice to folks reading this article—both pregnant women and others?
EB: For pregnant women, I would say just one thing: See a health care professional. No matter what decisions you make about the pregnancy, a health care professional can help make sure that you’re doing it the healthy way. Plus, he or she can give you advice on healthy behaviors, talk to you about any specific risks that you face and address any of your concerns. Places like the Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health in the Strip District can provide you with the care you need, even if you don’t have insurance.
For everyone else, I’ll just say this—provide support. Pregnant women foster our future generation—future family, friends, leaders, pastors—everyone. We need them to be healthy. We care for our community by caring for them.
VM: I love that advice! Thank you for your time, Ms. Bush. I look forward to discussing next month’s topic—health technology.
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