This week (April 11-17) is Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (BMHW) and this year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!”

Established and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, BMHW is designed to “build awareness, activism, and community-building​ to amplify ​the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.” It coincides with National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11 annually to coincide with the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights.

This week’s events include:

“In light of the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., which recent data shows has been exacerbated by the pandemic; and amidst growing cases of clear neglect in care in hospital systems immediately after labor and delivery, BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solution,” BMMA notes. “Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants and desires of Black women and birthing people.”

You can find a social media toolkit for spreading the word about BMHW that includes fact sheets on maternal mortality, mental health, breastfeeding, reproductive rights and justice, access to contraception, qualify of care/birth justice, Covid-19 and Black maternal health policy.