Episode 130

Why Black Women Are 4 Times More Likely to Die During Childbirth

With Latham Thomas

In the U.S., maternal mortality and morbidity disproportionately affect Black women at a rate four to five times greater than white women. On top of higher fatality rates, Black women are also statistically more likely to experience pregnancy complications, including hypertension, placental disorders, gestational diabetes, blood disorders, and preeclampsia.

On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, I talk to my good friend, Latham Thomas about how a system that is designed to help people actually ends up causing them harm when it comes to adverse birth outcomes. We discuss how a doula supports women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We also talk about reaffirming our children’s capacity for freedom during this time of racial unrest.

For more on Latham Thomas, you can follow her on Instagram @glowmaven, on Facebook @lathamthomasglowmaven, on Twitter @glowmaven, and through her website here. You can find her book, Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen, here. Learn more about her Doula Training Program here.

Also mentioned in this episode:

 

For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.

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I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did.
Wishing you health and happiness.
Dhru Purohit

In this Episode, you will learn

  1. Racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes
    (6:53)
  2. The history of racial disparities in childbirth among Black women
    (17:27)
  3. Latham’s story of getting into birth work and what it means to have an advocate
    (27:30)
  4. Why you should consider having a doula help you through your childbirth
    (30:38)
  5. Why birth is really a meditative state and the importance of feeling safe during labor
    (32:12)
  6. Latham’s early experience supporting women in birth
    (33:45)
  7. What informed consent looks like and standing up for your rights in childbirth
    (44:10)
  8. How to support the process of education and access for marginalized communities when it comes to doula trainings
    (52:15)
  9. How Latham is helping her son navigate the world when it comes to the racial unrest and protests
    (1:02:58)
  10. Where to learn more about Latham
    (1:12:59)

Guest

 
Dhru Purohit

Dhru is the host of the Dhru Purohit Podcast, a top 30 health podcast with over 30 million downloads. His interviews focus on the inner workings of the brain and the body and feature the brightest minds in wellness, medicine, and mindset.

Dhru Purohit is also a serial entrepreneur and investor in the health and wellness industry.

 
Latham Thomas

Latham Thomas is a Celebrity Doula and Maternity Wellness Expert. Latham supports women in embracing optimal wellness and spiritual growth as a pathway to empowerment. She is leading a revolution in radical self-care, guiding women everywhere to “mother themselves first.” Latham is the founder of Mama Glow, a global women’s health and education brand serving women along the childbearing continuum. Mama Glow supports women and families during the fertility period, pregnancy, birth, as well as during postpartum offering hand-holding through their bespoke doula services. Latham is also one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, and the author

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