Black women’s risk of maternal mortality has remained higher than white women’s risk for the past six decades. 

Black Maternal Health Week

Black Maternal Health Week is April 11 – 17, founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health.  

ABOUT BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK

Community Service Council together with our maternal health community partners honor Black Maternal Health Week each year, which takes place April 11 –17. The month of April is recognized in the United States as National Minority Health Month – a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities.

Follow us on Facebook at @CSCHealthyStart as we increase awareness around Black maternal health complications in Oklahoma. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #BlackMamasMatter 


WHAT TO KNOW: THE FACTS

  • Black women experience pregnancy-related deaths at 3-4 times the rate of white women According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In Oklahoma, the Black maternal mortality rate is higher than that of the nation. 
  • Black women’s maternal mortality has remained higher than white women’s risk for the past six decades. Maternal mortality is defined by the World Health Organization as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.”
  • Black women are also more likely than white women to experience complications that are pregnancy and/or birth-related. In Oklahoma, black women account for 10% of the births statewide but make up over 22% of all maternal deaths. (Oklahoma State Department of Health).
  • According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women experience pregnancy-related deaths at 3-4 times the rate of white women. A growing body of evidence indicates that stress from racism and racial discrimination influences maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women, regardless of their socio-economic, education or health status.
  • Despite advances in medical technology and increased spending on health care, maternal mortality has increased for all women in the U.S. Approximately 700 women die each year during pregnancy or delivery-related complications. (This is the equivalent of four 737 planes crashing.) Often these deaths are preventable.

TULSA RESOURCES FOR BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH

Purple bolded providers are women of color. Large health groups are not bolded in purple due to the array of providers offered – this does not mean that they do not have providers of color.

Breastfeeding Support

Innovations Family Wellness
Montika Collins, MA, BS, BSN, RN, CLC, IBCLC
3336 East 32nd Street, Suite 107, Tulsa OK
918-398-3586 

COBA
okbreastfeeding.org/coba-in-the-news1.html

WIC Breastfeeding Support
oklahoma.gov/health/family-health/wic.html

Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center
obrc.ouhsc.edu/

Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline
Call: 1-877-271-6455
Text: OK2BF to 61222

Helmerich Women’s Center
1120 S. Utica Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74120
8801 S. 101st East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74133
12012 N. Muskogee Place, Tulsa, OK 74104
918-579-8018

Saint Francis
6161 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136
918-494-6455

Mental Health

Healthy Women, Healthy Futures
Brandi Cannon, LMFT, CLC, PMH-C
Behavioral Health Care Coordinator
Community Service Council

918-894-1475

CrisisCare Center
COPES: 918-744-4800

Family & Children’s Services
fcsok.org/services/maternal-mental-health/

Crossroads Counseling
crossroadsoftulsa.com/services/womens-health-clinic/

Oklahoma State Department of Health
oklahoma.gov/health/family-health/improving-infant-outcomes/maternal-mental-health.html

Birth Control Resources

Take Control Initiative
takecontrolinitiative.org

Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

Healthy Start Program
Community Service Council
1604 S. Baltimore Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119
918-855-3892 or 918-899-1129

Utica Park Clinic 31st & Garnett
11515 E. 31st St., TulsaOK 74146
918-392-3944

Ascension Medical Group – St John’s Riverside
7501 Riverside Pkwy, Tulsa, OK 74136
918-710-4200

OSU Medical Center
744 W. 9th St., Tulsa, OK 74127
918-599-1000 

Healthy Start Program
Community Service Council
1604 S. Baltimore Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119
918-855-3892 or 918-899-1129

Special Delivery Midwifery Care
4926 East 73rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74136
918-477-9343

Modern Village Midwifery
Home Based Services
918-304-8122

Tulsa Birth Center
5750 E. 31st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135
918-932-8164

Breathe Birth and Wellness
4800 W. San Antonio St., Broken Arrow, OK 74012
918-250-2229

OSU Midwives
717 S. Houston Ave., #200, Tulsa, OK 74127
918-586-4500

Doulas

With Love Births
2232 South 137 East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74134
918-282-9033

KMC Doula Services
305-302-9472

I am Wombman Birth Services
mamaowon@gmail.com

Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative  
info@tulsabei.org

Simply Rooted Wellness
simplyrootedwellnessllc@gmail.com

Sisters in Loss Doula Services
erica@sistersinloss.com

Sharde Roebuck Turner
918-902-0168

The Photo Doula
918-720-4079