NATIONAL FEATURE PAGE TITLE women. The CDC said this was a result of multiple factors, including variations in the quality of healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. For Chelsea Ward, 32, a nursing student from Fords, New Jersey, who recently gave birth to twins, the state of Black maternal health in the United States is “inadequate.” “It’s challenging when you’re fighting and advocating for your maternal health rights, and having to educate your peers as well,” Ward said. Obtaining knowledge and self-advocating is key to making informed decisions, Ward added. RESILIENCE AND JOY Despite their challenges, the women described their resilience as they navigate maternal healthcare and motherhood. Soyal Smalls, 37, from Poughkeepsie, New York, who was pregnant when photographed in August 2022, believes increasing the number of Black healthcare providers would help Black mothers, along with having more hospitals with birthing units to support the mother and allow for more vaginal births. Ashlee Muhammad, 37, agreed, saying her doctors had assumed she would have a cesarean and she had to advocate for herself to have a vaginal birth for her twins. Many of the women also emphasized the importance of postpartum care. “If we are not whole as mothers, I don’t know how anyone expects us to care for these children,” Clark said. Ward said she thought more education for the Black community on innovations in birthing, postpartum care, and parenting would be beneficial. “I truly believe that if we know better, we would do better,” she said. Shariah Bottex, a 30-year-old program manager in Flushing, New York, pumped milk while her fiance fed their newborn son when photographed her in March. She said her biggest hope for her children is that they will feel comfortable in their skin and that they get to enjoy their childhood. “My greatest joy as a mother is seeing my baby smile so big and knowing that I’m the cause of that smile and his happiness,” Bottex said. ■ Courtesy of Reuters / International Network of Street Papers Need to get rid of your car, truck, or motorcycle? Consider donating it to Denver VOICE. Call (855) 500-7433, or go to: careasy.org/nonprofi t/denver-voice. Your donation helps Denver VOICE succeed in its mission to provide individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty the chance towards a more stable life. The Denver VOICE empowers homeless, impoverished, and transient individuals by creating job opportunities through our vendor program. We facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportunities for the impoverished community. VOLUNTEER WITH US! We are looking for volunteers to support our program coordination by helping with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at the Denver VOICE offi ce (989 Santa Fe Dr.) from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at: program@denvervoice.org HOLISTIC DOULA CIARA CLARK, 34, RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM HER HUSBAND ANTHONY CLARK, A 38-YEAR-OLD VIP ASSOCIATE FOR A SPORTS BETTING COMPANY, WHILE SHE LABORS IN HER BED AT HER HOME BIRTH IN TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY, U.S., SEPTEMBER 11, 2022. REUTERS/JOY MALONE June 2023 DENVER VOICE 11 DONATE YOUR CAR!
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