Black Maternal Health Week 2025 

Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health through Collective Action and Advocacy

Every year from April 11–17, we honor Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW)—a national campaign founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) to deepen the conversation around Black maternal health in the U.S., amplify community-driven solutions, and inspire action toward birth justice.

Now in its eighth year, BMHW 2025 continues to shine a light on the alarming disparities that Black birthing people face, while uplifting the joy, resistance, and brilliance that have always been part of Black birth traditions.

Why Black Maternal Health Week Matters

Black women and birthing people in the United States are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, regardless of income or education. This is not a result of individual choices or genetics—this is the direct result of systemic racism in our healthcare system and beyond.

Black Maternal Health Week exists to say: We see you. We believe you. And we are fighting for you.

It’s a week to:

• Raise awareness of the root causes of maternal health inequities

• Celebrate Black voices, stories, and solutions

• Call on lawmakers and institutions to invest in community-driven care

• Center joy and healing in the face of trauma and loss

The 2025 Theme is “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health through Collective Action and Advocacy”

Past themes have included ideas like reclaiming Black bodily autonomy, centering Black-led innovation, and envisioning a future where all Black birthing people thrive.

How Community-Based Doulas Are Part of the Solution

At the heart of the movement for birth justice are community-based doulas—especially Black doulas—who serve, protect, and advocate for Black families through every step of the perinatal journey.

These doulas:

• Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed support

• Help clients navigate a system that often ignores or dismisses their concerns

• Offer emotional care, education, and advocacy in hospital and home settings

• Act as trusted members of the community—not outsiders

If we are serious about improving Black maternal health, we must continue to fund, train, and uplift Black doulas and community-based birth workers.

How You Can Participate in Black Maternal Health Week

Here are a few ways you can engage during BMHW 2025:

Follow and amplify Black Mamas Matter Alliance (@blackmamasmatter) and local Black-led maternal health orgs
Use your platform to share facts, stories, and solutions
Educate yourself and others on the root causes of health inequities
Donate to organizations doing this work year-round
Support Black doulas and midwives in your area
Advocate for policies that support birthing justice and eliminate barriers to care

Take Action: This Week and Beyond

Black Maternal Health Week isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about building momentum. It’s about affirming that Black lives matter in birth and that joy, safety, and sovereignty should be the norm—not the exception.

Let this week be a reminder to listen to Black voices, trust Black birthing people, and invest in the community-led care models that are already saving lives.

We have the solutions. Now we need the will, the funding, and the collective action to make them real.

Want to learn more? Visit www.BlackMamasMatter.org for official events, resources, and the 2025 theme.
Follow along on Instagram www.instagram.com/communitydoulaalliance