Maternal Health Crisis: Pregnant Black Women's Experiences Highlight Systemic Failures

Fri Dec 05 2025 10:14:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Two pregnant Black women faced perilous situations during childbirth due to inadequate care, drawing attention to systemic racism within healthcare that endangers Black mothers and their babies.

In two alarming cases, Mercedes Wells and Kiara Jones, pregnant Black women in Indiana and Texas, faced life-threatening neglect during childbirth. Both incidents have sparked national outrage and highlight the systemic racism that contributes to higher maternal mortality rates among Black women, who are 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women. Advocates are calling for urgent reforms and improved treatment for Black mothers within the healthcare system.

As the holiday season approaches, two pregnant Black women almost 1,000 miles apart faced alarming childcare experiences that endanger their lives and those of their infants. In Indiana, Mercedes Wells was discharged from a hospital despite being in labor, leading to the delivery of her child on the side of an Indiana highway. Meanwhile, Kiara Jones experienced a similar ordeal in Texas, where she nearly gave birth in the emergency room waiting area due to delayed assistance.

Both cases have ignited national discussions surrounding the racial disparities in maternal healthcare, as a recent CDC report indicates that Black women face maternal mortality rates nearly 3.5 times higher than their white counterparts, with little to no improvements in recent years.

‘I felt dismissed’

In her desperate plea for care, Wells expressed feelings of being ignored and dismissed. Despite knowing that her cravings were immediate and serious, healthcare staff at Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital insisted on discharging her. In tears and immense pain, she was forced to leave the hospital only to deliver her baby on the roadside with the help of her husband.

Following this incident, the hospital took immediate action, terminating staff involved and implementing cultural competency training to prevent future occurrences. We must fix what failed in our hospital so that no one experiences what happened to Mercedes Wells, stated Raymond Grady, the hospital's president.

Days before Wells’ situation, Jones was also subjected to inadequate treatment at Dallas Regional Medical Center, left in a triage area amidst fierce labor pains. A disturbing video shared by her family has drawn widespread criticism, raising questions about the hospital's protocol regarding Black patients' care.

Postdelivery complications

The issues do not cease after childbirth. Both women have reported harrowing postpartum experiences that signify a larger pattern of neglect faced by Black mothers. While Wells faced severe pains that led to another hospital visit, Jones’s newborn showed signs of distress, which may have been exacerbated by the prior lack of timely medical attention.

Advocates stress that systemic issues, such as implicit bias and structural racism, play significant roles in deteriorating health outcomes for Black women. Organizations like SisterSong reveal that personal accounts affirm the tragic disconnect in trust between Black women and healthcare professionals.

‘There needs to be a big change’

In light of these experiences, both women have voiced the urgent need for empathy and systematic reform within the healthcare system. They encourage others to become informed and advocate for their rights during medical emergencies to safeguard their well-being.

Healthcare equity advocates demand immediate and sustained action to eliminate these systemic failures in maternal care. Dr. Sheldon D. Fields, president of the National Black Nurses Association, emphasizes, Respectful, timely, lifesaving maternity care is non-negotiable. The push for change continues as families, advocates, and lawmakers confront the ongoing crisis in maternal health.