What does it actually mean to provide safe, equitable, and compassionate care to Black mothers? And why isn't simply being aware of the Black maternal health crisis enough? In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Kayleigh sits down with Frances Ivy-Marie, author of Beyond Awareness: Caring for Black Mothers with Integrity, to unpack the realities of Black maternal health and the changes that need to happen within our healthcare system. Together, they explore the difference between awareness and action, the importance of language and patient-centered care, and how healthcare professionals can build trust with Black patients through meaningful, everyday actions. This conversation is an important reminder that good intentions aren't enough. Our patients deserve more than awareness campaigns and well-meaning words. They deserve to feel safe, heard, respected, and cared for. In this episode, we discuss: 📖 Why Frances wrote Beyond Awareness: Caring for Black Mothers with Integrity and who she hopes will read it.💔 The fear surrounding Black maternal mortality and the desire to create a safer future for the next generation.📊 Why awareness of the Black maternal health crisis isn't enough without meaningful action and systemic change.⚖️ The devastating disparities in Black maternal mortality and the role of racism and discrimination in healthcare.🗣️ Why specificity in language matters, including respecting how patients identify themselves rather than relying on broad, generalized terminology.🏥 Why Black patients shouldn't have to find a Black doctor to receive safe, respectful, and equitable care.🤝 How healthcare professionals can build trust without making patients responsible for educating them or proving their allyship.❤️ Why actions speak louder than words when it comes to making patients feel safe and supported.👩🏾⚕️ Practical ways nurses and healthcare providers can show up for Black birthing people, from building rapport to listening, asking questions, and following through.🌱 How to approach conversations with humility, recognize when you've made a mistake, and prioritize repair over defensiveness.✨ Why Black mothers deserve to experience joy, excitement, and dignity during pregnancy and birth, not just fear and survival.A reminder from this conversation: Awareness is not action. We have to move beyond knowing the problem exists and start doing the work to change it. And this is just Part 1! In our next conversation, we'll continue exploring what meaningful change looks like, including the responsibility of healthcare administrators and the systems that shape the care Black mothers receive. About Frances: Frances Ivy-Marie is an author, safety advocate, CPST, and TEDx speaker. She holds a BA in History and an Associate of Science in Communications. Her work focuses on education, advocacy, safety, and improving how Black mothers and families are supported within healthcare and professional settings. Frances is passionate about moving conversations beyond awareness and toward meaningful action, accountability, and respectful care. In Beyond Awareness: Caring for Black Mothers with Integrity, Frances examines what it means for healthcare providers and professionals to care for Black mothers with intention, respect, and integrity. The book encourages professionals to consider how communication, trust, advocacy, and individual responsibility shape the care and experiences of the mothers they serve. As a Child Passenger Safety Technician and safety advocate, Frances is also committed to educating families and communities about safety and helping professionals recognize the importance of clear, respectful, and effective communication. Through her writing, advocacy, and speaking, Frances Ivy-Marie brings attention to the experiences of Black mothers and the systems that shape their care. Her work calls on healthcare providers and professionals to move beyond statements of awareness and take responsibility for the work they are entrusted to do listen, assess, communicate, advocate, and provide competent care. Get Frances' Book! For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.
