ATLANTA — An effort is underway to save the lives of Black mothers, as Thursday marked the start of Black Maternal Health Week.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 70,000 and 100,000 Black mothers die as a result of giving birth in Georgia.
Over 84% of pregnancy-related deaths for moms are preventable, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“So, unfortunately, Georgia does have some of the highest maternal mortality rates. The research is showing that it's only getting worse," said mid-wife Christine Taylor.
That’s part of the reason for starting Black Maternal Health Week, which is dedicated to educating and supporting moms.
Last year, Congress approved over $100 million in funding for programming and research related to this issue.
Taylor has caught over 300 babies. She said aftercare is a crucial component in keeping moms alive.
“Most of those events are happening in the postpartum period, OK, so this is after moms are having babies -- most of these events are happening after she gives birth. So it's very important that moms are followed up with shortly after the birth," Taylor said.
With almost 10 years of experience under her belt, Taylor says a key factor in saving lives is educating moms on alternatives that are available to them.
"Education is powerful, and when you have knowledge about what is really important as far as taking care of your body during pregnancy and taking care of your baby and the whole process, I think that empowers moms to make decisions that they feel resonates with them," Taylor said.