Home / Health / Black Women's Pain Ignored in Maternity Care
Black Women's Pain Ignored in Maternity Care
16 Feb
Summary
- Mothers report pain being dismissed and concerns ignored.
- Black women are twice as likely to die during childbirth.
- Racially-based assumptions may influence care quality.
Three women have shared deeply concerning experiences in maternity care, reporting that their pain and concerns were frequently dismissed. Tenisha described a midwife telling her to be quiet and covering her mouth, while Shakira was left in pain for hours after her C-section, her request for pain relief denied. Kadi recounted suffering a severe tear and then being ignored while crying in pain.
These accounts from different hospitals suggest a pattern where black women feel unsupported and unsafe, with their pain not taken seriously. Dr. Michelle Peter noted that such dismissal of pain and denial of adequate relief is a common experience for black women.
The Black Maternal Experiences Report, surveying over 1,100 women, found 54% faced challenges with healthcare professionals, and nearly a quarter did not receive requested pain relief. This is attributed to historical and ongoing racialized assumptions about black people's pain tolerance.
Baroness Merron acknowledged the unacceptable disparity, stating that black and Asian women being more likely to die in childbirth is an 'absolute outrage.' An independent investigation is exploring the impact of discrimination against women of color, aiming to implement changes to prevent tragic outcomes and address inequalities.
