6. What’s Missing in Maternal Health?

May 13, 2021

Marquisse Watson is a nurse and the founder of the Alana Marie Project, which offers grief support after infant loss. Meredith Shockley-Smith directs community strategies for Cradle Cincinnati, tackling infant mortality. They discuss Marquisse's heartbreaking journey after losing her daughter Alana, and the systemic issues contributing to higher mortality rates among Black infants. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support, addressing maternal health challenges, and the critical need for inclusive healthcare decision-making.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Navigating Maternal Health Challenges

02:43 • 11min

Navigating Loss and Hope

13:24 • 5min

Empowering Black Mothers: Addressing Maternal Health Disparities

18:24 • 9min

Supporting Families Through Grief

27:23 • 2min

Navigating Maternal Grief and Support

29:13 • 10min

Addressing the Overlooked Crisis of Kidney Disease

38:49 • 2min

The complications started around week 18 of Marquisse Watson’s pregnancy. Six weeks later, her baby girl Alana was born premature. Marquisse and her husband Antwon had bought the baby clothes, gotten the nursery ready… but Alana passed away 36 hours after she was born. This week, we talk to Marquisse about working through her grief seven years later. We’re joined by Venice Haynes and Meredith Shockley-Smith to talk broadly about social determinants and why black babies are twice as likely to die than white babies.

Resources from the episode:

Learn more about Cradle Cincinnati: http://cradlecincinnati.org and Queens Village: https://www.cradlecincinnati.org/queensvillage/
Check out Marquisse and Antwon’s Alana Marie Project: https://thealanamarieproject.com/
Follow the US of Care on twitter: https://twitter.com/USofCare
Read about the US of Care findings on Americans’ health care needs during COVID-19: https://unitedstatesofcare.org/humanizing-the-response-to-covid-19-by-listening-to-people/
Watch the US of Care Voices of Real Life YouTube series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLchtNczPer_8g7icvpiu2gmVNPr9XPENQ

Keep up with David on twitter @CHIDavidSmith.

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