Black women

Demand Transparency in Pregnancy Outcomes in NY Hospitals - Sign on Statement

July 13, 2020

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo, 

Since January, New York has lost at least three Black mothers due to childbirth related deaths: in July, Sha-Asia Washington died during a Cesarean birth at Woodhull Hospital; in April, Amber Rose Isaac died during a Cesarean birth at Montefiore Medical Center; and in March, Cordielle Street died a week after she gave birth due to complications. Their deaths are the direct result of racism that has led to a Black maternal mortality crisis in New York and the United States, as a whole: Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy and birth related complications and 50% more likely to suffer severe pregnancy and birth complications than white women. 

In 2016, New York State Law § 2803-J Information for Maternity Patients was passed, mandating that New York hospitals annually publish their data on birth related events and procedures such as number of vaginal or Cesarean births, use of forceps or vacuum, inductions, vaginal births after prior Cesareans, and other vital statistics. In light of the ongoing Black maternal mortality crisis, we insist this law be expanded to include reporting on maternal deaths, before, during and up to six weeks after childbirth; third trimester fetal losses and stillbirths; hemorrhage; and injuries related to childbirth including damage to tissue and organs during Cesarean birth, third and fourth degree tearing; with a racial break down on all data points.

In low income, predominantly Black or Hispanic neighborhoods physical proximity to a hospital is often a major deciding factor of where to receive prenatal and labor care. Recent studies show that the hospital at which pregnant people receive care is a primary determinant of Cesarean rates, morbidity and mortality. In absence of published hospital data regarding pregnancy outcomes, pregnant people and particularly Black women in New York State, cannot make informed decisions about where to receive their care or whether their local hospital is a safe place for them to birth their babies.

Transparency in racial disparities of pregnancy and birth outcomes is an essential step in ensuring better outcomes for all pregnant New Yorkers. New York’s hospitals have been allowed to operate with impunity after deaths, loss or injury occur for too long. Requiring hospitals to publish maternal, fetal and infant morbidity and mortality data is essential in holding these institutions accountable for preventable injuries and deaths and improving pregnancy outcomes for patients.

We implore you to amend New York State Law § 2803-J Information for Maternity Patients to include statistics and racial data on maternal deaths, third trimester fetal losses and stillbirths, and birth related injuries. This information is critical in the fight against New York’s maternal mortality crisis and vast racial disparities in maternal health.

Co-signed, 

Jesse Pournaras, Doula

Megan Davidson, Doula

Kiera Nagle, MaMassageNYC

Crystal Karamath

Sarah Y. Nowlin, Mount Sinai Hospital 

Sharon McCay 

Lesa Young, Doula

Corynne Cirilli, LovedBaby Doula, LLC

Tymaree Cook Renaud

Denise Bolds, MSW CD(DONA),CLC, Bold Doula

Sarah-Grace Sweeney

Heather Renee Noren

Erica Livingston, Birdsong Brooklyn

Jennifer Mayer, Baby Caravan

Ryan Cameron

Raychel Franzen

Selena Maldonado, Doula

Lisa Greaves Taylor, LCCE, CCCE, CD(DONA), Birth Matters LLC

Morgane Richardson, Woven Bodies

Nancy Demirci, Full Spectrum Doula

Madison Petersil

Jaye Maynard McClure, Park Slope Doula

Kori Krysh, Certified Labor Doula

Ruth Callahan, CLC, PCD(DONA), Doula Care, LLC

Vicki Borah Bloom, Whole Self Doula 

Gina Eichenbaum-Pikser, LM, CNM,Community Midwifery Care

Jessica Grant, Midwife

Renée Pizzuto, Tribe of Mine, LLC Owner & Founder

Sarah Manasrah 

Luar Adonis Wolf CD (DTI), CBE (DTI), CBC, Little Moonlight Doula

Joyce Havinga-Droop, Birth Ambassador

Kizzi David 

Jessie Obadia

Aimée DuPont, Doula

Meema Spadola, PCD(DONA), CLC

Emily Cohen-Moreira, Lucy the Laborer

Mary Whitlock 

Katherine Anderson, Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula

Lea Rivera, Empire Lactation

Shamina Rao, CD, CBC

Hannah Shealy, Doula

Puri Carvajal, Birth Doula

Enrica Haelen 

Bonu deCaires, Fullbirth Inc.

Jill Wodnick, Speaking of Birth

Julia M, Celestial Birth Doula Services

Olivia Hartvig, Made Under the Moons

Yamilka De Dios, Doula

Emi Samuelstuen, Doula

Jess Frederick

Sasha Hawkins, Birth & Postpartum Doula

The Leadership Circle of the Doula Project

Margot Hodes, Nurture Baby NYC

Gwen Schroeder, Re:Birth, Birth Doula & Storyteller

Allison Walsh IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE