Opinion | Philanthropists Must Help Ensure Childbirth Is Positive

To the Editor:

Thalia Beaty’s story, “Helping Mothers and Babies Survive Childbirth Is a Personal Goal, Says Melinda French Gates” (September 12), effectively covered the importance of healthy births and early childhood development. What struck me, however, was how Gates described the day someone gives birth as “terrifying.”

While the numbers on Black maternal mortality speak for themselves, too much news coverage focuses on the inherent dangers of giving birth as a Black person in the U.S., instilling fear and anxiety in pregnant people and their loved ones. Instead, media should focus on joyous birth experiences and the resources integral to positive outcomes.

A recent Los Angeles Times article did just that, highlighting how certified nurse midwives and obstetricians collaborate to manage labor at MLK Community Hospital in South Los Angeles. The approach is in line with what focus group participants asked for, saying they “felt safer giving birth in a hospital with ready access to technology and medication, but also wanted the care of a midwife or birth doula,” according to the article.

Philanthropists like Melinda French Gates should fund community-driven solutions like this, which help address the despicable disparities in birth outcomes experienced by Black parents.

Finally, let’s not forget about a birthing person’s mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Mental health conditions, including suicide and overdose, are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths — higher than postpartum hemorrhage, high blood pressure, and infection. That’s no surprise, given that the U.S. is the only high-income country without guaranteed paid parental leave.

Women around the world need good health care. Philanthropy can make childbirth less terrifying by focusing on the positive, investing in community-driven solutions, and addressing mental and physical health.

Kelly O’Connor
Executive Director
Maternal Mental Health NOW