Shades of Becoming a Mom (SBMOM) is launching #BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek #BBLAW, October 17-21, 2022, as a social media campaign to inform, encourage, and equip families with information to break the silence, get support, and lessen the number of Black babies dying in pregnancy and infancy. 

Some of the long-term goals of Black Baby Loss Awareness Week are as follows:

• Increase the representation of Black voices in local, state, and governmental-endorsed maternal health projects
• Increase the engagement of medical professionals in DEIB training and a DEI lifestyle
• Advocate for insurance-covered Doula service for all women (birth and postpartum)
• Encourage Black families to participate in clinical research 
• Increase the participation of Black women in healthy pregnancy programs
• Encourage culturally competent individuals to pursue specialties in perinatal loss
• Increase the participation of bereaved Black mothers in nonprofit support programs offered in their neighborhood

Please show your support for #BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek and sign the petition today to elevate the consciousness of those that can implement sustainable change and empower Black families to share their truth. 

#BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek Background 

Researchers call the United States the most-dangerous developed country to give birth. About 700 women die yearly in the U.S. due to pregnancy or delivery complications. One in three maternal deaths is preventable.

Since 2018, over 21,000 infants have died each year in their first year of life. The leading causes of infant mortality are birth defects, preterm birth, injuries, sudden infant death syndrome, and pregnancy complications. The amount of infant deaths is much higher if miscarriages are factored in. For known pregnancies, 11-16% of pregnancies end in a spontaneous loss of the pregnancy before the 20th week. Most miscarriages occur because the fetus is not developing as anticipated.

With such high numbers of miscarriages, infant deaths, and maternal deaths, one might assume that these issues are well-known among women. However, many women report being unaware of the issues and the available resources for grieving families. 

The Disparities 

Losing a baby or spouse due to pregnancy or delivery complications is tragic. For Black families, the pain of losing a loved one can be exacerbated by systemic racism, prejudices, implicit bias, microaggressions, and other forms of oppression. 

Please show your support for #BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek and sign the petition today to elevate the consciousness of those that can implement sustainable change and empower Black families to share their truth. 

If you have a story to share, we encourage you to share your story with the hashtags #BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek #BBLAW.