Pregnancy assistance networks aiding expectant moms in the Valley region
The BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center (BWPC) in Fresno is making a significant impact on maternal health outcomes, particularly among African American women, through its free Pregnancy Care Support program. This community-driven initiative offers a 10-week support group led by a certified nurse midwife and a doula, focusing on health assessments, education, and peer support [1][2][3].
Located at Calaveras and L streets in Downtown Fresno, the center welcomes expecting mothers at all pregnancy gestational ages, from the first trimester to the third. Brittany Mbong, a certified nurse-midwife, leads the sessions, which last for two hours and include vital sign monitoring, educational materials, and childbirth simulation to prepare mothers for labor and delivery [2].
The sessions at the BWPC aim to build a sense of community among expecting mothers. Ta-She-Ra Manning, the Program Supervisor and a doula at the center, describes the group as a "circle of sisters" or a "circle of women coming together to support one another." Each mother is provided with a binder to guide them through their birthing journey, and doulas walk with expecting mothers throughout their birthing journey [1].
The center uses a simulation room to help teach new moms, providing them with hands-on experience and confidence for childbirth and newborn care. The program's overarching goal is to reduce preterm births and maternal mortality disparities linked to systemic racism and limited access to quality care [1][2][3].
In 2023, the death rate for black women during childbirth was 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the CDC, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives like the BWPC [4]. While the center does not currently offer prenatal care, its future goal is to bring that service to the center.
Brittany Mbong, the program leader, shares a vision of no black woman dying from a preventable childbirth and no black baby dying from a preventable birth. The BWPC's approach targets maternal health disparities through culturally competent care and community empowerment within Fresno.
While BWPC focuses on pregnancy care and support, there are broader national and local initiatives like the Baby Safety Foundation that work on infant and toddler safety, which indirectly support maternal and child health outcomes [4]. However, BWPC's unique approach directly addresses the alarming statistic that Black women faced a maternal mortality rate more than three times higher than white women in 2023 [1].
In summary, the BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center’s Pregnancy Care Support program is a key initiative improving maternal health among African American women in Fresno through education, health monitoring, peer support, and skills development for childbirth and newborn care [1][2][3]. The center is more than just a support group; it's a community of women coming together to support each other through one of life's most significant journeys.
[1] Black Wellness and Prosperity Center (BWPC). (2023). Pregnancy Care Support Program. Retrieved from https://blackwellnessandprosperity.org/pregnancy-care-support-program
[2] Mbong, B. (2023). Empowering African American Mothers in Fresno. Fresno Bee. Retrieved from https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article264075247.html
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Maternal Mortality. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/maternal-mortality.htm
[4] Baby Safety Foundation. (2023). About Us. Retrieved from https://babysafety.org/about-us/
- The BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center's Pregnancy Care Support program not only offers health assessments and education but also fosters a sense of community among expecting mothers, similar to a "circle of sisters," promoting health-and-wellness.
- By focusing on maternal health disparities through culturally competent care, community empowerment, and skills development for childbirth and newborn care, the BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center contributes significantly to the science of health-and-wellness, particularly for African American women in Fresno.
