Raising Awareness: Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17

The U.S. is in the midst of a maternal health crisis—one that disproportionately affects Black women, who are more than three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. 

Black Maternal Health Week, held each year from April 11–17, is a national week-long campaign that aims to call attention to that disparity. 

Founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)—a national network of maternal health, reproductive justice, and birth justice leaders—the week aims to amplify ​the voices of Black mothers and birthing people, advocate for policies and programs to improve their access to quality health care, and uplift the achievements of those working to support Black maternal health.

“Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy” 

The theme for this year’s Black Maternal Health Week, “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy,” “emphasizes the power of Black-led perinatal, maternal, and reproductive health organizations to drive systemic change and foster community healing,” writes BMMA. Learn more about the theme here.

Status of Black Maternal Health in the U.S. 

The U.S.’s overall maternal mortality rate is already the highest among wealthy nations. For Black women, it was an alarming 50.3 in 2023—over two and a half times the national average, and nearly three and a half times the rate for white women (14.5). 

Worsening maternal health outcomes reflect a longstanding public health crisis in the U.S., with multiple factors—including structural racism, biased and discriminatory treatment from providers, limited access to quality care, and broader health inequities that can lead to complications during pregnancy—driving disparities.

The Trump administration’s recent actions threaten to further exacerbate the issue. As part of its attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the administration has removed maternal health data from government websites and placed staff overseeing vital maternal health research on indefinite administrative leave. The administration’s harmful anti-DEI rhetoric also threatens the provision of patient-centered, culturally congruent care, such as midwifery care, which has been shown to improve maternal health outcomes for marginalized groups. 

The Center’s Work to Improve Maternal Health in Hawaiʻi 

One state significantly impacted by the U.S. maternal health crisis is Hawaiʻi, where pregnant people—especially Black and Native Hawaiian people—often face care shortages, inequitable treatment, and preventable illnesses and deaths. Though midwives play a vital role in combating the crisis by providing accessible, culturally informed care, Hawaiʻi enacted a law in 2019 that imposed unnecessary restrictions on midwifery and forced many midwives to stop practicing. 

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit in February 2024 challenging the law, and a state court ruled in July 2024 to temporarily block the restriction, allowing Hawaiian midwives to resume pregnancy and birth care in their communities. The ruling was an important win for reproductive autonomy, which encompasses pregnant people’s right to make informed decisions about their own reproductive care. 

“I wonder how different [Black maternal health in the U.S.] would’ve looked had the growing obstetrical (white) practices not badmouthed and accused the healers of their communities of being ‘filthy’ or ‘crazy,’ ultimately eradicating their traditional practices,” wrote plaintiff A. Ezinne Dawson on Instagram. “Would the United States’ maternal mortality rates of Black women be comparable to other races?”

The Center is also fighting the law in the state legislature by working alongside state advocates to improve HB 1194, a bill that could replace the midwifery restriction law. The bill has been amended multiple times and is still subject to change: to protect pregnant people’s rights to access their chosen midwife, the final language must include clear protections for Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, licensure for all certified professional midwives, and removal of criminal penalties.

Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week means celebrating every path to birth, especially ones rooted in cultural knowledge. The answer to the maternal health crisis is more trusted providers—not fewer. More options—not criminalization.

Black Maternal Health Week: What You Can Do 

• Learn more about Black Maternal Health Week 2025 and help raise awareness. 
• Learn about BMMA and its work to improve Black maternal health.  
• Participate in a Black Maternal Health Week 2025 event: 
  • Black Maternal Health Professionals’ Networking Event • April 15, 6:30–8 p.m. ET • In-person at The Lola, 621 North Avenue Northeast, Building D 100, Atlanta, GA
  • YouTube Live: Nourishing Families Through Community Milk Sharing • April 16, 1 p.m. ET • Online
  • Webinar: Thriving in Black Maternal Health Through Policy and Advocacy • April 17, 12 p.m. ET • Online
  • National Call: 2025 Black Maternal Health Week Campaign (Video Replay) • Online

The Center for Reproductive Rights, along with SisterSong, is an original convener and supporter of BMMA and continues to be a strategic partner.

U.S. Maternal Health and Rights Initiative   

The Center’s U.S. Maternal Health and Rights Initiative focuses on improving maternal health equity and outcomes. Some of its policy priorities are expanding midwifery care for pregnancy and birth, protecting extended post-partum Medicaid coverage, and strengthening informed consent in pregnancy and birth. Read more here.