New Sister Circles are planned this fall in Kent, Ravenna and Windham to promote positive maternal health outcomes for Black pregnant women and infants.
The LoveLight-Spirit of Motherhood Portage initiative is geared toward Black women because their maternal mortality rate is more than three times that of white women, and because Black infants are nearly twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to white infants, the non-profit said.
Depression and stress can negatively affect babies through the placenta, and can lead to high blood pressure and other effects of pre-eclampsia for the mother. Not having a maternity ward or birthing center in Portage County to deliver one’s baby adds another layer of stress…