{"id":3702,"date":"2024-07-15T10:38:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T15:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=3702"},"modified":"2025-04-24T08:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:50:09","slug":"black-maternal-health-support-is-ongoing-focus-at-blue-kc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/healthier-living\/maternal-health\/black-maternal-health-support-is-ongoing-focus-at-blue-kc\/","title":{"rendered":"Black maternal health support is ongoing focus at Blue KC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Twenty-two years ago, Bridget Locke gave birth to baby Zo\u00eb at a Kansas City hospital. Zo\u00eb was healthy, and Bridget\u2019s pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated. Her postpartum experience was not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five days postpartum Bridget developed a debilitating headache and swelling of her lower limbs. She drove herself to a local ER expecting to be back home that evening with her family. Instead, she was admitted to the hospital where she remained for the next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a week fraught with lack of clarity about what was happening to her, unexplained scans and meds, a doctor who wanted to medicate her anxiety rather than acknowledge her legitimate emotions, and a nurse who reprimanded Bridget for asking to bathe. She felt unseen as a person, and worse, like she didn\u2019t have a say in her healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was sad and emotional because my whole life was at home with my new baby, my husband and my 1-year-old. I was scared about what was happening to me and afraid I wouldn\u2019t make it out of the hospital,\u201d said Bridget. \u201cThe doctor wanted to medicate away my anxiety rather than hearing and acknowledging my fears. I didn\u2019t feel like I had a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridget agreed to share her story because she believes women of color should be empowered to advocate for themselves, especially in healthcare situations. As director of strategic communications at Swope Health, she has the privilege to do that every day. Baby Zo\u00eb is now 22 and working toward a career in dentistry. She interned at Swope Health in 2023 and plans to attend dental school next year. She aspires to one day work in community health and carry on the tradition of helping women advocate for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zo\u00eb Locke (left) and Bridget Locke at Swope Health.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bridget\u2019s is a story of black maternal health equity, advocating for yourself, understanding potential complications, and knowing what to look for during pregnancy. While her story was set 22 years ago, the reality is that little has changed for women of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) are hard at work to change that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC\u2019s suite of maternal health equity programs and support for local maternal health equity organizations is helping get the job done in Kansas City. See our efforts at the end of this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BCBSA is working at the national level to help move the needle. It\u2019s June 2024 Health of America report, \u201cImproving postpartum maternal health outcomes\u201d<\/a> explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BCBSA findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Preeclampsia, which Bridget suffered, is one of about 20 conditions classified as severe maternal morbidity (SMM) events. SMM events are dangerous and often cause new moms to return to the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its Health of America report, BCBSA says six SMM events \u2013 acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, acute heart failure, thrombotic embolism, and eclampsia \u2013 account for three quarters of all SMM events1<\/sup>. And the prevalence of these six events is higher for Black patients compared to white patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n