Black Maternal Health Week is a time to focus on something that deserves attention all year round — the safety, experiences, and outcomes of Black women during pregnancy and beyond.
In the UK, the data tells a clear story. Black women are still significantly more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the postnatal period compared to white women. Despite ongoing efforts across the healthcare system, this disparity has remained persistent, and in some cases, has worsened in recent years.
This is not just about statistics. It reflects real experiences, real families, and real moments where care could and should have been different.
Quick jump:
Black maternal mortality in the UK: what the latest data shows
Understanding where fertility care fits in your pregnancy journey
Fertility testing: understanding your reproductive health early
Personalised fertility care: building trust and improving outcomes
Findings from MBRRACE-UK and recent parliamentary reports continue to highlight inequalities in maternal outcomes. Black women are several times more likely to experience severe complications or death during pregnancy and after birth.
These differences are not explained by biology alone. They are shaped by a combination of factors, including access to care, underlying health conditions, and how concerns are recognised and responded to within the healthcare system.
Reports have also pointed to issues such as delayed diagnoses, symptoms not being taken seriously, and gaps in communication between patients and healthcare professionals. In some cases, this can lead to missed opportunities to intervene early and prevent complications.
Organisations such as Five X More have been instrumental in bringing these issues into public focus. Their work centres on improving outcomes by advocating for better listening, better understanding, and more equitable care for Black women and their families.
The Black Maternity Experiences Report provides important insight into how care is experienced on the ground. Many women describe feeling unheard or dismissed when raising concerns during pregnancy or after birth.
This can include pain not being fully assessed, symptoms being attributed to less serious causes, or delays in receiving appropriate care. These experiences can have a direct impact on outcomes, particularly when early warning signs are not acted on quickly.
At Care Fertility, we recognise that listening is a critical part of clinical care. It is not separate from treatment — it is part of it. When patients feel able to speak openly and know they will be taken seriously, it supports safer and more effective care.
It’s also important to be clear about where fertility care sits within your wider journey.
At Care Fertility, we support you up to your positive pregnancy test and early pregnancy scan. After this point, your maternity care is provided by the NHS, where you’ll be looked after by your midwife and local maternity team throughout pregnancy and birth.
While we don’t deliver maternity care ourselves, we know that what happens before pregnancy still matters. Feeling listened to, having your concerns taken seriously, and understanding your health can all play an important role in how confident and supported you feel moving forward.
This is why we focus on thorough testing, clear communication, and personalised care from the very beginning, so you feel informed and supported before you move into NHS maternity services.
Black maternal health does not begin at pregnancy. It often starts much earlier, with reproductive health and fertility.
Two conditions that are more commonly seen in Black women are fibroids and adenomyosis. Both can affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes, particularly when they are not identified or managed early.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb. Depending on their size and position, they can interfere with implantation or increase the risk of miscarriage and complications during pregnancy.
Adenomyosis occurs when the lining of the womb grows into the muscle wall. This can affect how the womb functions and may impact embryo implantation, as well as causing heavy or painful periods.
Research shows that Black women are more likely to develop fibroids, often at a younger age and with more severe symptoms. Despite this, diagnosis is not always timely, and symptoms can sometimes be normalised or overlooked.
This is an important part of the wider conversation around maternal health. If underlying conditions are not identified early, they can continue to affect both fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
Understanding your fertility health is an important first step, whether you are actively trying to conceive or thinking about the future.
At Care Fertility, we begin with testing before any consultation takes place. This ensures that when you speak with a doctor, your results are already available and can be discussed in detail, allowing for a more informed and personalised plan.
A fertility assessment typically includes blood tests to measure hormone levels, such as Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), alongside a pelvic ultrasound scan to assess the ovaries and womb.
These tests can help identify conditions such as fibroids or adenomyosis, as well as providing a broader picture of reproductive health.
Having this information early allows for clearer decision-making and helps guide the next steps, whether that involves monitoring, treatment, or further investigation.
Early diagnosis can make a meaningful difference to both fertility outcomes and pregnancy care.
When conditions like fibroids or adenomyosis are identified early, treatment plans can be adjusted to reflect individual needs. This may include medical management, surgical options, or tailored fertility treatment approaches.
In fertility care, timing and preparation are important. Understanding how the womb and ovaries are functioning allows clinicians to recommend the most appropriate treatment pathway and improve the chances of success.
Without this information, it becomes more difficult to provide care that is both targeted and effective.
Trust is central to any healthcare journey, particularly in fertility treatment, where decisions can feel complex and emotional.
We focus on creating an environment where patients feel supported, informed, and involved in their care. This includes clear communication at every stage, from initial testing through to treatment planning.
Following a consultation, patients receive a detailed summary of their results, recommended treatment options, and associated costs through our treatment companion app, Salve. From there, the next steps are clearly outlined, including any required screening tests and a treatment planning meeting with a nurse to go through the plan in detail.
This structured approach is designed to reduce uncertainty and ensure that patients feel confident in the decisions they are making.
Improving Black maternal health outcomes requires a broader, system-wide response. This includes continued research, better training for healthcare professionals, and more consistent approaches to identifying and managing risk.
It also requires a commitment to listening to women’s experiences and using those insights to shape care.
Campaigns led by organisations such as Five X More and Black Mamas Matter Alliance are helping to drive awareness and push for meaningful change. Their work highlights the importance of equity in healthcare and the need for ongoing accountability.
If you have experienced symptoms such as heavy periods, ongoing pelvic pain, or changes in your cycle, it is important to seek advice and explore these further.
You do not need to wait until you are trying to conceive to understand your reproductive health. Early assessment can provide clarity and help identify any issues that may need attention.
If you have previously felt that your concerns were not taken seriously, it is important to know that your experiences matter. You should feel able to ask questions, raise concerns, and receive clear, informed answers about your health.
Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to reflect on where improvements are needed and how care can continue to evolve.
At Care Fertility, we are committed to providing care that is not only clinically strong, but also grounded in listening, understanding, and respect. By combining early testing, personalised treatment planning, and clear communication, we aim to support every patient with the attention and care they deserve.
Everyone’s journey is different, but access to safe, informed, and equitable care should be consistent.
If you’d like to better understand your fertility health or talk through any symptoms or concerns, our team is here to support you. You can call us on 0800 564 2270 or click here to get in touch with our patient enquiry team and take that first step.