The Birth Squad

Black women in the United States are still significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes — and this disparity is not explained by education, income, or genetics. So what is actually driving it?In this season finale, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello have the honest conversation that too many people are still afraid to have:- Why Black women enter pregnancy carrying both excitement and fear at the same time.- Why maternal morbidity and mortality often starts quietly — with a headache, swelling, or fatigue that feels different- How bias in healthcare shows up subtly and why small moments of dismissal can become dangerous fast- Why Black women second guess themselves before speaking up and how that delay can become deadly- The postpartum warning signs that should never be ignored — preeclampsia, blood clots, cardiomyopathy, infection and more- How support systems including doulas, partners, and community can help identify complications earlier- Why postpartum is one of the most medically vulnerable times, and what needs to changeThis is not just a statistic. These are real women. Real families. Real stories.And when women are heard earlier, supported better, and taken seriously the first time — outcomes improve. That is the standard every patient deserves.📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquadDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #MaternalMortality #BlackMothers #PostpartumHealth #BlackWomensHealth #KnowYourRights #HospitalBirth #Preeclampsia #BirthAdvocacy

Everyone prepares for the birth. Almost nobody prepares for what comes after.In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down what the postpartum period actually looks like and why so many women are left feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unprepared the moment they get home:Why postpartum recovery takes far longer than anyone tells youThe physical realities of healing after vaginal delivery and C-sectionHow hormone shifts and sleep deprivation make everything feel heavierWhy your identity, relationships, and sense of self all shift at onceThe pressure to "bounce back" and why it's completely unrealisticThe "Want, Need, Help" system for building real postpartum supportWhen to pay attention to your mental health and ask for help earlyBecause postpartum is not just physical recovery. It's a full life transition — physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. And it was never meant to be survived alone.🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts — link below.📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquadDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤#TheBirthSquadPodcast #PostpartumRecovery #BlackMaternalHealth #PostpartumMentalHealth #BlackMothers

"Your baby is healthy. That's all that matters." — But what happens when the birth itself feels traumatic, even when the outcome is good?In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down:Why birth trauma is defined by how the experience felt — not just the medical outcomeHow loss of control and lack of communication during emergencies can lead to traumaWhy a healthy baby does not erase a traumatic birth experienceThe real disparities in who feels heard, believed, and supported during labor — especially for Black womenWhat birth trauma can look like postpartum and why it's often left unaddressedHow to ask for a birth debrief and the questions that help your mind process what happenedWhen to seek mental health support and what signs to pay attention toBecause two things can be true at the same time. Your baby can be healthy and your birth can still have been traumatic. Your experience matters. Your feelings matter. And you deserve support while processing both.🎧 Listen now — link below.📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquadDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthTrauma #PostpartumMentalHealth #BlackMothers #HospitalBirth #MaternalMentalHealth #BlackWomensHealth #BirthExperience #LaborAndDelivery

You've decided on an epidural — so do you really still need a doula? Two Black OB-GYNs are answering this question once and for all.In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down:Why an epidural treats pain but does not replace supportWhat doulas actually do in the labor room beyond pain managementWhy your need for support doesn't stop once the contractions doHow doulas support your partner and help them stay calm and involvedWhy your doula is the only person in that room whose full attention is on youWhat the research says about continuous labor support and better birth outcomesHow the best labor rooms are collaborative — doula, nurse, and provider working togetherBecause labor is bigger than contractions. It's communication, decision making, and emotional presence. And those needs don't disappear just because the pain does.📲 Follow us for more: Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquadDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #DoulaSupport #HospitalBirth #BlackMothers #EpiduralBirth #LaborAndDelivery #BlackWomensHealth #ContinuousLaborSupport #Doula

You're in labor and your provider recommends something you weren't expecting — and you don't know how to push back without seeming difficult or putting your baby at risk.In this episode, two Black OB-GYNs break down:Why interventions get recommended and what's really happening in that momentHow to slow down the room and ask questions without creating tensionThe BRAIN tool — the 5-question framework every pregnant woman needs to knowHow to advocate for yourself without saying noThe difference between real urgency and perceived pressureWhat your care team owes you even when time is limitedBecause asking questions is not the same as refusing care. And when you understand your options — you stop feeling powerless.📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquadDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthAdvocacy #HospitalBirth #PatientRights #BRAINTool #LaborAndDelivery #BlackMothers #BlackWomensHealth #KnowYourRights