This week has been Black Maternal Health week with a theme of Leading with Solutions, not Trauma. Led by campaigners and charity FIVEXMORE Jenny Hall, Midwifery educator, researcher and editor, shares information and resources about the week and to support the maternal wellbeing of Black women and birthing people.
This week has been Black Maternal Health week, a time to focus particularly on the needs of Black women and birthing people. The week is led by campaigners and charity FIVEXMORE and they have been running a number of focussed events to continue to point to issues affecting Black women. This is the seventh year the day has been running, with an aim to continue raising the disparity of experiences, care and outcomes for those in the Black communities.
The most recent MBRACCE report pointed that Black women and birthing people remain at risk of death 2.3 x those who are white skinned. The FIVEXMORE own Black Maternity Experiences Report 2025 tells of considerable discrimination. It is evident maternity services need to do better.
The themes of the days over the week have covered topics: Sepsis, Sickle cell, Reduced fetal movements, Hypertension, with a day of action on Tuesday 21st and positive stories and a rest day on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th.
More information about the days and other resources may be found at their web site https://fivexmore.org/black-maternal-health-week-2026 and across their social media platforms.
On the Maternity and Midwifery forum and MATFLIX sites we have further resources to help in the care of Black women and birthing people. A selection are shared below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x9GdAikfcE
Alicia Burnett – Baby loss – supporting black and mixed-black women #MidwiferyHour – YouTube
Sickle cell and blood disorders in pregnancy – Matflix
Dr Jenny Hall
Midwifery educator, researcher and editor
April 2026