CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago’s race and culture series “Black Moms Rising” continues to look at motherhood in the black community.
The CDC has allocated $118 million in funding to combat maternal mortality across the country, including in Illinois, and will support a team of experts to collect data and develop solutions.
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The funds will help continue the work of Illinois’ Maternal Mortality Review Committee, one of 46 committees across the country working to prevent mothers from dying in childbirth.
ABC7 was told that the Illinois committee places a strong emphasis on mothers of color.
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Last July, nurse Dominique Murry forced herself out of a car to enter a delivery room she knew she might not ever leave.
“I sat in the car crying for 15 minutes because I was so scared to go to the hospital to have the baby,” Murry said. “I basically diagnosed myself with gestational diabetes.”
Murry said her personal experience as a nurse was the only reason mother and baby survived that day. That’s one reason the CDC is partnering directly with the Illinois Department of Public Health, which will receive over half a million dollars a year for the next five years to advance the work of its Maternal Mortality Review Committees.
“Committees that can increasingly turn to each other to learn from each other and really accelerate their impact,” said David Goodman, head of the CDC’s Maternal Death Prevention Team.
The Illinois Committee, a team of 25 to 50 experts in the field, conducts a thorough analysis of maternal mortality and then draws up a list of recommendations.
“Eight of them were actually passed and … became law or were enacted,” Goodman said.
One of the recommendations was to expand Medicaid to include postpartum support.
Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said they will continue their efforts with things like child tax credits, home visiting and diaper equity programs. He said all of these issues are especially critical for mothers of color.
“Even if we take into account factors like economic aspects, etc., there is still a gap between the outcomes when we talk about black and white women,” said Dr. Vohra.
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According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy. A report further shows that more than 80% of all pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
“We go in and expect to come out with a healthy mother and a healthy baby, but sometimes that’s not the case,” Murry said.
Dr. Vohra said his team is using the power of government to make Mom Stop a priority.
“The state of Illinois is listening to you,” Dr. Vohra said.
According to IDPH, the state has allocated over $20 million for maternal health in this year’s budget and is encouraging mothers to take advantage of available resources.
Resources for mothers: https://www.healthychoiceshealthyfutures.org/
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