06/06/2026
Midwifery has served the community for many generations and BLACK MIDWIFERY SAVES LIVES!!! During the 1950s-1960s the community was told that black midwives were unsafe and unclean, that we were unskilled persons. When in reality many of us trained the OBs. In fact, to this day at the county hospital here in Dallas, first year OB students are trained by the Nurse Midwives on staff. We are in fact skilled and trained with an eye that sees the whole person, listens to the family, and sees the bigger picture (not just the snapshot of birth). We implement recommendations and advice for the duration of the client’s life not just the day they have a baby. But be clear, not all of us are cut from the same cloth.
This past week I continued support to a client that was transferred out of care and got a C-section at the hospital. After being discharged and having a headache that wouldn’t go away I told her to go back to the hospital. She was sent home. After following up with her and hearing that she still had symptoms that were worsening I told her to go back and coordinated with an in hospital provider to follow up so that she wouldn’t be sent home again. After many hours of not being treated she was finally treated for preeclampsia. Many times they don’t hear us, many more times they don’t see us! But Black Midwives save lives!
