CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago's race and culture series “Black Moms Rising” continues to highlight childbirth in the Black community.
The CDC has offered $118 million in funding to work toward reducing maternal mortality in Illinois and across the country, to fund a team of experts tasked with collecting data and developing solutions.
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The funding will help continue the work of the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee, one of 46 committees nationwide that work to prevent mothers from dying during childbirth.
ABC7 was told the Illinois commission is focusing on mothers of color.
Reference | Black Mamas Rise: $10 million UIC study aims to reduce U.S. maternal mortality
Last July, nurse Dominique Marie forced herself out of her car and headed to the delivery room, even though she knew she might not be able to get out.
“I sat in the car crying for 15 minutes because I was scared to go to the hospital and give birth,” Marie said. “It was like I'd been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.”
Murray said her experience as a nurse was the only reason both mother and baby survived that day. This is one of the reasons CDC is partnering directly with the Illinois Department of Health, which will receive more than $500,000 per year over the next five years to further support the work of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
“By learning from each other, the committees can really accelerate that impact,” said David Goodman, CDC's maternal mortality prevention team leader.
The Illinois commission is a team of 25 to 50 experts in the field that will conduct an in-depth analysis of maternal mortality and present a list of recommendations.
“Eight of those bills have actually passed and become law,” Goodman said.
One of the recommendations was to expand Medicaid for postpartum assistance.
Illinois Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Samir Vohra said he wants to continue efforts like the child tax credit, home visiting and diaper equity programs, all issues he said are especially important for mothers of color.
“Even when you eliminate economic and other factors, there are disparities in outcomes when it comes to black and white women,” Dr Vohra said.
Reference | The Rise of Black Moms: Women Who Become Single Mothers by Choice Through Assisted Reproductive Technology
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy, and more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
“We go to the hospital and hope to come out with a healthy mother and baby, but sometimes that doesn't happen,” Murray said.
Dr Vohra said his team is trying to use government power to take away mothers' priority rights.
“The state of Illinois is listening to you,” Dr. Vohra said.
The state is committing more than $20 million to maternal and child health in this year's budget, according to IDPH, and he's encouraging mothers to take advantage of the resources available to them.
Resources for Moms: https://www.healthychoiceshealthyfutures.org/
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