âIs This Normal?â When Black Pregnancy in Chicago Feels Like a Dangerous Guess
If youâre a Black birthing parent on Chicagoâs South or West Side, pregnancy can feel less like a joy and more like a dangerous guessing game. Not because of anything you did, but because the nearest labor unit might be across town, the bus might be late, and the nurse at triage might not believe you the first time you say, âSomething is wrong.â You might find yourself timing contractions on a crowded bus, wondering if you will get there in time and if anyone will take your pain seriously (American Medical Association, & Sinai Urban Health Institute, 2024).Â
Maternal care deserts arenât just a map problem; theyâre a risk multiplier. When OB units close and clinics disappear in Black neighborhoods, people get fewer prenatal visits, face longer rides in crisis, and have more chances that preeclampsia, hemorrhage, or infection wonât be caught in time. A Chicago study listening to Black birthing people in these areas heard the same story again and again: âWe didnât know what was normal,â âNo one explained what to watch for,â âBy the time they took me seriously, it was already bad.â The system keeps its distance and then blames you for not seeing danger sooner (Hailu et al., al 2022).
Figure 1: Maternal morbidity, OB/GYN capacity, and OB/GYN unit closures by ZIP code in Chicago, illustrating how South and West Side neighborhoods face higher risk and lower access (American Medical Association & Sinai Urban Health Institute, 2024)
Thatâs why our project is creating a small, plainâlanguage pregnancy and postpartum magazine for Black birthing parents on Chicagoâs South and West Sides. It is a tool you can use so you are not left guessing alone. Instead of leaving Black birthing parents to figure out whatâs serious and what can wait, it helps you and your people
Stop letting the system turn your pregnancy into a dangerous guess. Pick family, community and tell them, âYouâre my emergency teammate.â Hand them the dangerâsign page, ask them to screenshot it, and make a pact, No more guessing. No more going alone.Â
American Medical Association, & Sinai Urban Health Institute. (2024). From facilities to outcomes: A neighborhood-level examination of maternal and infant care access in Chicago. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/maternal-health-chicago.pdfÂ
Hailu, E. M., Maddali, S. R., Snowden, J. M., Carmichael, S. L., & Mujahid, M. S. (2022). Structural racism and adverse maternal health outcomes: A systematic review. Health & Place, 78(102923). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102923Â