In honor of Black Maternal Health Month, the St. Louis Public Library is hosting a series of programs designed to educate, uplift, and unite expectant mothers, new mothers, and their families.
All programs will be held at the Central Library branch, 1301 Olive Street and are free and open to the public.
The effort comes as GOP legislators in Congress are moving to restrict healthcare funding, vital to many women, through cuts to Medicaid funding.
In August 2024, a report by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed that the pregnancy-related mortality for Black women in the state is 2.5 times the ratio of white mothers and pregnant women.
Hypertension and cardiovascular ailments were the most common cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri between 2017 and 2021. African Americans have higher rates of both those issues than white Americans, and the mortality rate is higher as well.
The report outlined class and race disparities. People with higher education degrees were less likely to die than those without college diplomas. Those on Medicaid were also more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.
During that period, for every 100,000 births in the state, more than 32 people died because of pregnancy-related complications within one year — an average of 70 deaths annually.
In July 2024, Missouri Independent reported that Missouri women have more limited access to health care and worse outcomes than any other state in the Midwest.
Missouri ranks 40th out of 51 states plus the District of Columbia on the 2024 state scorecard on women’s health and reproductive care, published by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on health care issues.
Missouri continues to see maternal and infant mortality rates, breast and cervical cancer death rates, preterm births, congenital syphilis and depression leading up to or during pregnancy at rates that are higher than the national average.
There are more women in Missouri between the ages of 18 and 44 reporting they hadn’t seen a doctor in the past year because of the cost than all but 10 other states.
“One thing is absolutely clear,” Joe Betancourt, president of the Commonwealth Fund, told reporters when the study was published last week. “Women’s Health in the U.S. is in a very fragile state.”
Missouri ranked among the states with the lowest low-risk c-section rates, postpartum depression and up-to-date pneumonia vaccines for post-menopausal women. But it fared among the worst nationally for breast and cervical cancer deaths, up-to-date pap smears, and mental health among women ages 18 to 64.
In Missouri between 2018 and 2020, women on Medicaid were 10 times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than women on private insurance, according to a 2023 report from the state’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review. Black mothers on Medicaid were three times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than white mothers.
The St. Louis Public Library sessions include:
Affinia Healthcare will lead Nurturing Beginnings, a perinatal resource fair featuring information on nutrition, breastfeeding support and essential care for new and expectant parents from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday April 18, 2025. This event includes a diaper distribution and a live cooking demonstration.
Birthing Boldly, a one-time, power-packed session, is designed to empower expectant parents in crafting their ideal birth plan. Prepare to approach a birth journey with knowledge, support, and a clear vision. The session is from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday April 19.
The Rooted Birth Collective will lead a perinatal resource fair featuring valuable information on mental health, doula support and essential care for new and expectant parents from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday April 19.
In addition, a conversation on perinatal mental health will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday April 25. This program will provide resources, support and expert insights into navigating the emotional challenges of pregnancy and post-partum wellness.
For accessibility accommodation, call (314) 241-2288.
Good