Uninhibited Podcast Shownote
Episode 2: Black Mom’s Matter!
Welcome to Uninhibited, a podcast with the mission to discuss taboo, multicultural, multi-generational, and multi-layered topics that matter to women.
Our host, Dr. Makunda Abdul Mbacke, is an Ivy-League trained OBGYN, practicing medicine in rural America. She is a mother, career professional, part of Generation X, and so much more.
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1:00 - Dr. Makunda introduces us to this week’s guest, Ericka Turnipseed, and gives some background on their topic of discussion: the high rates of maternal deaths - both during pregnancy and delivery - that is disproportionately impacting black women.
3:13 - Ericka describes her own experience with her first pregnancy, where she didn’t feel heard or cared for at her 22-week checkup meeting when her primary OBGYN was unavailable. There were a few concerns that Ericka expressed during her appointment, but she was told to go home and wasn’t seen by a doctor.
11:07 - A few days after that appointment, Ericka felt unwell at work and decided to leave, experiencing high levels of pain on her trip home. On arriving at the emergency room, Ericka was in intense pain and was seen by ER doctors on the labor and delivery floor, who couldn’t find a reason for her pain, but suspected preeclampsia.
14:50 - Dr. Makunda explains that even though Ericka’s situation was medically rare, these types of issues in providing effective prenatal care to black women isn’t just a hospital or area problem - it’s a national problem.
16:15 - Ericka saw a lack of confidence among the attending doctors caring for her, as this condition at barely 24 weeks into the pregnancy was uncommon. As soon as Ericka’s primary OBGYN arrived, they went through more tests to figure out exactly what was going on which led to a diagnosis of Hellp Syndrome. This syndrome affects blood platelets and liver enzymes. Ericka was admitted to the hospital, given the proper medications, and put on strict bedrest to prevent her from going into labor.
18:20 - Ericka tells about all the heartbreaking thoughts and feelings she was having at this time. She knew she was going to have a daughter, was discussing names and futures with her partner, and suddenly, her baby’s life was at risk because Ericka’s life was at risk.
20:40 - Ericka recalls being awoken that evening by her primary OBGYN to the news that they were going to have to move forward with her delivery because her condition was continuing to decline. The only option to save Ericka was to deliver her child. Her family rushed to be at her side through surgery and through this traumatic experience.
26:14 - On waking up from surgery, Ericka didn’t know where her daughter was or if she had survived the surgery. Thankfully, Ericka’s daughter, Grace, lived through the surgery, but it was uncertain how long she might live. Ericka was also experiencing complications and an allergic reaction after everything, so was moved to the ICU without seeing her child.
29:59 - “You said ‘I felt like my body had failed me’ and a lot of the dialogue about this maternal morbidity and mortality amongst African Americans is placing blame on the African American female body.” - Dr. Makunda.
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For more information on Preeclampsia and Hellp Syndrome, check out these resources:
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