Why Black mums in the UK face higher maternity risks – and what you can do about it

Black mums in the UK face higher risks in pregnancy and birth because of racism and inequality in how care is delivered, not because their bodies are "the problem". This post explains the data, what sits underneath it, and what you can do to protect yourself and your community.

The statistics: what the numbers actually say

Black women in the UK are more than twice as likely as white women to die during pregnancy, childbirth or the postnatal period. Black babies are also more likely to be stillborn or die soon after birth, and Black mothers face higher rates of serious complications such as pre-eclampsia and severe hypertension.

Recent analysis found that Black women in England were up to six times more likely to experience some of the most serious birth complications during hospital delivery than white women. These inequalities are not isolated incidents. They are part of a wider pattern that too many families already know first-hand.

These numbers are not just statistics. They represent mums, babies, partners and families whose stories look and feel like ours.

It's not your body – it's the system

A harmful myth says Black women have worse outcomes because of their bodies, genetics or "lifestyle". The evidence points somewhere else.

1. Racism and bias in care

Investigations and inquiries show that Black women often report:

• not being listened to when they say something feels wrong

• having pain and symptoms minimised or dismissed

• experiencing microaggressions, stereotyping and poor communication

• fearing they will be labelled "aggressive" or "difficult" if they speak up

All of this makes women hesitate to raise concerns, even when they know something is wrong.

2. Inequalities in where we live and the care we can access

Women and babies in the most deprived areas have significantly higher rates of stillbirth and neonatal death than those in the least deprived areas. Black and Asian families are more likely to live in those deprived areas because of wider structural inequalities – housing, income, employment and discrimination across society.

This affects:

• how soon people book into antenatal care

• how easy it is to attend appointments because of work, childcare or transport

• the quality and capacity of local services

3. Higher rates of certain health conditions – and gaps in care

Black women are more likely to experience conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and fibroids. In theory, this should mean more careful monitoring and support. In practice, bias and stretched services can mean risks are not fully explained, checks are missed and treatment is delayed.

When racism, deprivation and health conditions stack together, risk multiplies.

What this looks like in real life

Here's how all of this can show up in everyday care:

• A Black mum reports reduced movements or new pain. She is told "it's normal" and sent home, only to find out later that important checks were not done.

• A woman with a history of procedures like LLETZ, previous loss or pre-existing conditions is not referred to a specialist clinic or offered extra scans, even when extra monitoring should have been considered.

• A partner or friend raises concerns in an appointment and feels they are treated as confrontational, not protective.

• A mum in a deprived area struggles to get time off work or childcare to attend appointments, and is made to feel "non-compliant" rather than supported.

If any of this sounds familiar, you are not imagining it – and you are not alone.

What you can do before and during pregnancy

Nothing in this section replaces medical advice. It is about helping you prepare, ask better questions and get the care you are entitled to.

1. Know your history – and say it clearly

Risk is not just about ethnicity. It is about history plus current pregnancy. You are allowed to raise anything that worries you.

Write down:

• any previous procedures such as LLETZ, cone biopsy or fibroid surgery

• previous losses, preterm births or complications

• long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or autoimmune conditions

• family history of complications in pregnancy and birth

At booking and at key appointments, say:

I'm Black and I know the statistics about higher risk. I've also had [LLETZ/high blood pressure/previous loss]. Can we go through my risk factors together, and can you explain what extra monitoring or referrals I should be offered?

If they say everything is "low risk", ask them to explain why and to document the discussion in your notes.

2. Ask about specific pathways and clinics

Most areas have preterm birth clinics, specialist hypertension or diabetes clinics, and inequalities programmes.

Questions you can ask:

• "Given my history and that I'm a Black woman, is there a specialist clinic I should be referred to?"

• "Do I meet the criteria for extra scans or checks? If not, can you explain why, and record that in my notes?"

• "Who can I speak to if I have concerns between appointments?"

If you are told referrals or extra scans are not needed, it is okay to say:

I don't feel reassured. Please record that I've raised these concerns and asked for a referral, and tell me who I can speak to next.

3. Bring someone with you if you can

Advocacy is easier as a team. A partner, friend, sibling or doula can:

• help remember questions

• take notes

• speak up if you feel ignored

Before appointments, agree who will say what. For example:

If I say I don't feel right and it gets brushed off, can you please step in and say, 'We're really worried and we'd like you to check again and record that we're asking'?

What you can do if you feel you're not being heard

Even when you prepare well, you might still meet resistance or dismissal. Here are some practical steps.

1. Use clear, firm language

Phrases that can help:

• "My symptoms have changed since this morning. I need you to examine me and document your findings."

• "I'm not reassured. Please record in my notes that I'm still worried and why."

• "Can you explain what you are ruling out with the checks you're doing today?"

If you are on the phone, ask for the person's name and role and write it down.

2. Ask for escalation and second opinions

You are allowed to ask for a different clinician.

• "Can I be seen by a senior midwife or obstetrician?"

• "Is there someone else we can speak to today about these concerns?"

If you are sent home but still worried:

• ask what you should look out for

• ask when you should come back

• document what you were told and when

3. After something goes wrong – your right to answers

If you believe your care was unsafe or something has gone badly wrong, you have the right to:

• make a formal complaint

• request your notes and letters

• ask for an investigation and for the findings to be shared in a way you understand

What allies and professionals can do

These inequalities are not Black women's responsibility to fix. If you are a healthcare professional, ally or decision-maker, there is work for you too.

1. Take the data seriously – and personally

Acknowledging racism and bias in maternity care is not an attack on individual staff. It is a recognition of a documented reality.

Ask:

• Where are the gaps in our service?

• How do Black women describe their experiences here?

• What are we doing about it?

2. Make cultural safety and anti-racism non-negotiable

That means moving beyond one-off e-learning to:

• listening to lived experience in training and governance

• challenging racist language and assumptions in real time

• making sure complaints routes are safe, accessible and acted on

3. Partner with community-led organisations

Grassroots groups are often the most trusted voices for Black mums – run in churches, salons, community centres, WhatsApp groups and charities like Elkan's Light.

Partnering with them means:

• co-designing materials and services

• funding community-based work, not just hospital-based projects

• sharing power and decision-making

You are not alone – and you deserve safe, respectful care

If you are a Black mum or mum-to-be reading this, you may feel overwhelmed or angry. That is understandable.

Here is what we want you to hear:

• You deserve to be listened to the first time, not the fifth.

• You deserve clear information, not vague reassurances.

• You deserve care that respects your body, your culture and your voice.

Preparing, asking questions and standing your ground should not be necessary to survive childbirth – but right now, they can help protect you while we fight for a better system.

If you have questions you want the next Street Clinic to tackle, or if you want to share your story confidentially, you can reach out to us. Every story, every question and every conversation is part of pushing the system towards what we all deserve:

safe, equal, respectful maternity care for Black mums and babies – not one more preventable loss.