Black Maternal Health Can't Wait Any Longer – Here's What Needs To Change
It's Black maternal health awareness week – and if you're wondering how much change has happened in the past five years since mothers like Tinuke Awe began banging the drum for action, the answer is: not enough.
Today, MPs are speaking in parliament about what is being done to improve health outcomes for Black women and birthing people.
And while talk is needed, it's clear that so, too, is action.
Ahead of the crucial conversation, Tinuke Awe, co-founder of Five X More, told HuffPost UK: 'We must move away from promising change and towards transforming the structures that continue to fail Black women.
'At Five X More, the conversations we have with Black mothers and birthing people are consistent and clear: real change is urgently needed, and it must move beyond awareness into action.'
Black maternal health awareness week was first founded in 2020 by Five X More, an organisation empowering, supporting and advocating for Black women and birthing people.
Awe knew there was a need for an advocacy group like hers after she was diagnosed with preeclampsia late in pregnancy and didn't feel listened to.
At the time, she ran a group where parents would get together and discuss pregnancy and motherhood. Through her conversations with others, she discovered so many women had suffered negative experiences.
'There were so many other Black mums like me who also experienced negative outcomes given birth within the NHS,' she explained on Five X More's website.
In 2019, damning statistics released by MBRRACE UK found Black women were five times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
'I was shocked,' said Awe of the data, 'but I wasn't surprised due to the stories I heard.'
Black women are still three times more likely to die during, or in the first year after, pregnancy than white women – and suicide continues to be the leading cause of direct maternal death between six weeks and 12 months after birth.
Black mums are also twice as likely to be hospitalised with perinatal mental illness than white mums. Miscarriage rates are 43% higher in Black women – and there is also a disparity between stillbirth rates in Black babies and those of white ethnicities.
Discussing the damning statistics earlier this year, Dr Zoe Williams, a mother and NHS doctor, told HuffPost UK: 'There's a real feeling of injustice, which makes me feel so sad and disappointed.
'I think myself, as a Black woman who is somebody who works in the NHS and is very proud to work in the NHS – the fact we're failing Black women in this way, it's very disappointing.'
NHS England is developing a maternity care toolkit to support inclusive and culturally competent practice.
In 2023, the government – under Rishi Sunak's leadership – acknowledged 'we must do more' to ensure maternity care is consistent regardless of ethnicity. However it didn't set a target to end these disparities by.
In its manifesto, Labour then pledged to set a target to close the maternal mortality gap. We are still waiting for that target.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy secured today's parliamentary debate, which aimed to raise awareness about disparities in maternal outcomes for Black women and birthing people.
The Labour MP highlighted that it's been years now since these issues were first flagged – 'and we're still in this situation. Things absolutely have to change.'
When asked what she hopes will come out of today's discussion, Awe told me that, based on her conversations with Black women and birthing people, there is a need for commitment to the maternal mortality target.
'We need to see it implemented and monitored with real accountability,' she said.
Better data collection, is also crucial, she added, which 'meaningfully captures ethnicity, outcomes, and patient experiences, so we can tackle disparities with evidence and urgency'.
Ribeiro-Addy also flagged this issue in parliament, saying current data on racial disparities 'is limited and scattered' and that the 'lack of comprehensive research makes it difficult to see the full picture of what is happening'.
And lastly, Awe wants Black women to be listened to and believed – not just in maternal health, but across all areas of health.
Discussing the disparities, Angela McConville, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), urged MPs from all parties to use their voices to call for urgent change.
NCT said it stands in solidarity with affected families and campaigners, and has provided a template letter to help the public encourage MPs to push for real change.
'For Black mothers and birthing people in 2025 and beyond, their lives, their health, and their experiences must be valued as a priority, not an afterthought,' said Awe.
'We're hopeful that today's debate will act as a reminder that the time for talking is over. We need action.'
HuffPost UK has contacted the government for comment and will update the piece when we hear back.
Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby.
Tommy's fund research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provide pregnancy health information to parents.
Saying Goodbye offers support for anyone who has suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.
Dr Zoe Williams: We Need New Ways To Ask Black Mums About Their Mental Health
'Motherhood Does Not Erase Your Sexuality' – 3 Mums On Sex During And After Pregnancy
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But an accurate diagnosis is key. 'I guarantee that there are people walking around with very complex disorders who think they have telogen effluvium or female pattern hair loss,' says Ruggiero. 'Without knowing what's happening, you don't know which treatments will work.' To get a proper diagnosis, see a dermatologist or certified trichologist. Trichologists are not doctors, so they will have to work with your primary-care physician to order blood work or prescribe medications. Still, they can offer educated recommendations and may be easier to book than a dermatologist. According to new research , only 38 per cent of Ontario dermatologists are accepting OHIP referrals for hair loss. Once you have your diagnosis, it's best to try just one treatment at a time. That way, you'll be able to pinpoint what's behind any improvements or, in some cases, side effects. 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Numbing cream can be used before injecting PRP, PRF or Botox to reduce discomfort, which can feel like a sharp pressure. You may experience bruising, itching, redness or swelling that lasts for a few days. How many treatments are needed: For PRP and PRF, three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart, then maintenance treatments every three or four months; for scalp Botox, just like getting it in your forehead or around your eyes — about every three to four months. How much does it cost: $600 to $1,200 per session (though there are often discounts for packages). What it is: This hair loss treatment involves puncturing the scalp with tiny needles to create microchannels, which attracts oxygenated blood to the surface. These pathways allow growth-enhancing topicals like PRP, exosomes (derived from stem cells or placenta cells), or customized serums to better penetrate. 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For microneedling with a secretome serum, there's also a one-time cost of about $5,000 for stem cell collection and the production of 12 vials of serum. What it is: A device like the Alma TED uses ultrasound waves and air pressure to improve blood flow and absorption of a hair serum containing growth factors and peptides. What's involved in treatment: Your provider will apply the serum to your scalp, then will move a hand-held device over your head. It's painless and with no downtime but you'll have to leave the serum on your head for 24 hours. How many treatments are needed: Four treatments spaced one month apart, then maintenance treatments every four to six months. How much does it cost: $800 to $1,200 per session with discounts on packages. What it is: The most common laser for hair loss right now is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). It uses diffused red and near-infrared light to increase blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles. Some people — typically with short, straight hair — have good results, while others don't see a difference. On the more aggressive side of the laser spectrum, Health Canada recently cleared a non-ablative fractional laser called FoLix . It promises to stimulate hair growth by creating micro-wounds in the scalp with its tiny beams of energy, though its adoption into Canadian clinics hasn't picked up steam yet. What's involved in treatment: LLLT and FoLix each take about 30 minutes per treatment and are generally pain-free with no downtime. For LLLT, you sit with a helmet on your head and can read a book or scroll your phone. For FoLix, you lie down and your provider moves a hand-held device over your scalp, using the laser to target thinning areas. How many treatments are needed: Two to three weekly LLLT treatments for four to six weeks, then maintenance treatments every week; monthly FoLix treatments for four to six months. How much does it cost: $70 to $150 per LLLT treatment, with discounts on packages (some people choose to buy their own device [$1,500 to $5,000] if LLLT works for them); expect FoLix to ring in significantly higher per treatment. What it is: A hair transplant removes follicles from one area of the scalp (often the back of the head where hair is thicker or hair loss is less noticeable) and implants them in another. 'If there's global thinning, a hair transplant is not the answer,' notes Brandt. For candidates that have enough transplantable hair for the procedure, the follicles are traditionally harvested and implanted manually, but new technology is changing the process — and results. For example, the Artas iXi Robotic Hair Restoration system uses a robotic arm, multiple high-tech cameras and AI to improve the rate of successful transfer from 80 per cent in skilled human hands to more than 90 per cent. What's involved in treatment: Small strips of your hair are shaved at the back of your head so that the robot (or your provider) can access the follicles in the area. For women with long hair, these strips usually can't be noticed. As you lie face down, the follicles are then grafted with a scalpel, needle, or the Artas iXi, which acts kind of like a hole punch to harvest the follicles over the course of three hours. After a short break, the grafts are reinserted into the scalp's thinned-out areas, one by one. Altogether, the procedure takes six to 10 hours and nerve blocks and Ativan are used to manage pain and anxiety. After two weeks, the donor area should be fully healed, but it takes at least a year to see the full results. How many treatments are needed: One, in most cases (however, hair loss tends to be progressive and will likely continue with age). How much does it cost: $8,000 to $15,000 on average, depending on how many follicles are harvested. Recently, there's been a scalp-care boom, popularizing new serums, shampoos and conditioners designed to hydrate the scalp and strengthen hair roots to help minimize shedding. Some lean on peptides and antioxidants like you'd find in skin care, while others use ingredients like Aminexil, which is chemically similar to the tried-and-true minoxidil. You've likely also spotted caffeine-spiked serums and scalp massage tools, both designed to stimulate blood flow to hair follicles. For Ruggeiro and Beach, these products are fine complements to a treatment plan, but the pros note that there's a lack of third-party research to support the effectiveness. 'I don't think there's anything wrong with treating scalp care like skin care, but if you have a serious condition, disorder of the scalp, progressive form of hair loss or autoimmune form of hair loss, you need proper diagnosis and treatment,' says Ruggeiro. Maintaining existing hair is easier than growing new hair, so it's always a good idea to take care of your mane — just don't expect a miracle shampoo to overdeliver, says Beach. 'I don't have a problem with people using shampoos that they think are helpful, but how long do you leave your shampoo on your head? A minuscule amount of time. I have Afro-textured hair and wash it once a week. How am I going to expect a shampoo alone to stop hair thinning? The math doesn't math.' Maintenance is crucial for good long-term results. That means that the best hair restoration treatment is the one you can afford and are willing to stick with forever. 'If you have unlimited time and money, you could probably layer all of these treatments,' says Ruggiero. 'But if you can't spend $20,000 or $30,000 on your hair every year, then don't start.' Instead, pick one or two therapies — say, oral medication and PRF injections three times per year — and stick with them. For female pattern hair loss, you'll often want to start with topicals and medications. Then, if you're not satisfied with your results or don't want to take medication, you might consider PRP with or without microneedling as the next step. If you have telogen effluvium, finding and resolving the trigger is essential. That may mean changing your diet, working to minimize stress, correcting thyroid concerns or waiting out the postpartum period. To jump-start the hair growth phase, you can try PRP, microneedling, ultrasound or lasers — but you first need to treat the underlying cause of your hair loss or you're wasting your time and money.
