Several groups and advocates gathered at Lincoln University to work on finding ways to fight racial bias that is hurting Black birthing mothers and their babies, writes Kim Hudson for CBS News Philadelphia.

Talonda Rogers, a Black mother and founder of nonprofit The 4th Trimester MAHMEE (Maternal Advocates Helping Magnify Education and Empowerment), recalled the joy of being pregnant in 2000.

“We had been trying to get pregnant for a long time,” she said.

But when she felt something was wrong, she was ignored by her medical team. Later, she learned she had untreated gestational diabetes which caused her full-term baby boy to be birthed as still-born.

Rogers then spoke about shocking numbers showing how much more likely Black mothers are to have pregnancy complications than their white counterparts, as well as how much Black babies are more likely to die.

Cheryl Miles, co-founder of Black Women of Chester County in Action, was among those sharing potential solutions to combat racial bias, including simply listening to Black women.

“If we make sure that the systems are respectfully engaging the women into treatment,” she said, “we will have more successful outcomes.”

Read more about the Black maternal mortality epidemic and what women are doing about it at CBS News Philadelphia.

_____