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It might be 2023, however disparities in healthcare nonetheless exist, particularly for Black girls. They’re thrice extra doubtless to die from pregnancy-related problems in the US, in comparison with white girls on account of lackluster pre- and postnatal care. Resulting from our nation’s healthcare historical past, there’s additionally an ongoing theme of medical distrust between the Black group and U.S. medical suppliers. To empower all girls to place their well being first, Scary Mommy sat down with content material creator Lakeishea Drayton-Sharpe to study her expertise as a Black girl navigating the healthcare system and the way Wellstar was a supply of safety and luxury for her throughout a well being scare. That is her story, as informed to BDG studios.
I’ve all the time had the thought in my head that going to the physician might be scary, however I didn’t have my first “actual” medical scare till I used to be about 5 months pregnant with my first and solely daughter. I needed to spend every week within the hospital and get an emergency cerclage, a process that stitches the cervical opening closed to forestall or delay untimely beginning, as a result of it was too early for my daughter to be born. As soon as I used to be admitted, all the things moved quick: I had a catheter and an IV positioned and was given an epidural to organize me for the process.
I used to be terrified! It wasn’t simply me who was in peril — the little lady I’d been rising in my stomach for 5 months, whom we had simply chosen a reputation for, was additionally in danger. So as to add to that, issues I assumed I had months left to organize for have been occurring proper then! My job as a way of life, motherhood and DIY content material creator is one that’s organized, completely detailed and pre-scheduled. This expertise was the alternative of that.
As most well being scares are likely to go, I wasn’t ready for any of it. And being a Black girl provides one other layer of problems into the combination. There’s a longstanding historical past of unfair therapy and distrust between Black girls and the U.S. healthcare system: A 2020 ballot discovered that 7 out of 10 Black Individuals really feel they’ve been handled unfairly, and 55% say they mistrust it.
Regardless of these unfavourable statistics, my well being is my precedence. Listed here are 5 issues I discovered whereas navigating my well being as a Black girl.
1. Distrust Exists Inside the Healthcare System, However Not All Experiences Are A Statistic
I prayed your entire time I used to be within the hospital. Sadly, I’ve heard so many horror tales from Black pregnant girls in the case of medical care, and I didn’t desire a comparable final result. Happily, my expertise at Wellstar was not one other unfavourable statistic. I used to be fortunate to have a tremendous OB/GYN and OB specialist to verify I used to be taken care of. In conditions like this the place you’re scared and unsure, communication is big. The scientific workers, nurses and docs all made positive I knew what was happening and what to anticipate. I might inform they cared about serving to me have a constructive final result.
2. Asking Questions Is Important
The hospital or physician’s workplace might be intimidating, and it’s regular to be confused or scared. To remain calm, I requested about one million questions, and the workers answered every one irrespective of how foolish it was. This helped me really feel assured in my suppliers, and assured that all the things can be OK. Open communication between my docs, nurses, scientific workers and myself and my husband allowed me to really feel much less burdened and higher capable of give attention to getting ready for my daughter somewhat than obsessively worrying and spiraling down a nasty monitor.
3. Doing Your Personal Analysis Is SO Vital
Being conscious of the statistics pushed me to do my homework when selecting my healthcare suppliers—so when an emergency struck, I already knew I had docs I trusted. In reality, my primary software working with Wellstar is its supplier listing. Wellstar makes it simple to go looking by location and supplier, so you will get a greater understanding of who will likely be caring for your well being earlier than you even meet! Wellstar even makes their very own suppliers’ particular certifications, schooling historical past, and affected person rankings publicly accessible, so you possibly can see what different sufferers must say about their expertise with that particular physician, which is big when choosing somebody to care for you.
My physician took such nice care of my daughter and me all through my well being scare and whole being pregnant that when he moved to a different Wellstar hospital somewhat additional away, I made a decision to observe him regardless that it was an additional 15-minute drive.
4. Having A Sturdy Community Issues
I’ve my household and pals to depend on however fortunately Wellstar additionally has a robust community I can belief. Once I began experiencing horrible ache a few weeks after giving beginning that solely bought worse as my daughter bought older, my OB/GYN referred me to a different specialist throughout the Wellstar group to deal with what I later discovered was a gallbladder downside.
With 5 well being parks that embrace major care, specialists, pressing care, imaging and surgical procedure all below one roof, I do know Wellstar could have my again—and my daughter’s—for all routine and spur-of-the-moment well being wants. Their MyChart system additionally makes it simple to entry all of my take a look at outcomes, schedule appointments on-line, request refills and ship messages to my doctor from my smartphone or laptop.
5. The Community You Select Makes A Distinction
Life isn’t as polished as my social media feed. Inevitably, surprises will likely be thrown at you irrespective of how organized, ready, or health-conscious you might be. I’ve executed my homework on Wellstar and their involvement locally. Their Heart for Well being Fairness addresses well being inequities throughout Georgia. They’ve partnerships with nonprofits, companies, and authorities companies to make a significant distinction within the communities they serve.
It’s also possible to do your half to cut back disparities in healthcare by exhibiting up to your well being. Which means getting common well being screenings and checkups to determine danger elements earlier than sicknesses or points develop.
I belief Wellstar to care for my well being, and you’ll too. Study extra right here.
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