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Congress Listens to Bianca's Story of Black Moms at Risk
Bianca Dickerson Williams, Black Moms At Risk Speaks at Congressional Mamas' Caucus Kick-Off in DC
California mother breaks silence on catastrophic injuries during childbirth that nearly made her a Black maternal mortality crisis statistic
WASHINGTON - Aug. 1, 2022 - Representing Black Moms At Risk, California mother Bianca Dickerson Williams traveled to Washington, DC, to share her story at the kick-off event for the Congressional Mamas' Caucus in the U.S.
Capitol. She suffered catastrophic life-altering injuries during the delivery of her second child at UCLA Medical Center, an experience that is all too common for women of color giving birth in the U.S.
This was Dickerson Williams' first time sharing details of her traumatic experience in the delivery room and subsequently in the courtroom, in front of an audience. More information on her story can be found at Bianca's Story: Black Moms At Risk.
"Instead of holding my baby in my arms that day, I was hoping and praying to God that I was going to make it out alive," said Dickerson Williams. "Instead of owning up to their catastrophic mistakes, conducting tests, and finding solutions for the debilitating physical pain they caused, the hospital sent a social worker to evaluate my mental state and ask if I have diapers at home. I felt unheard, ignored, and humiliated."
Mothering Justice established the Congressional Mamas' Caucus with the support of a bicameral coalition in Congress and in close partnership with more than 20 national advocacy organizations. The purpose is to advocate for mothers of color and their families and empower them to be engaged and hold those in charge accountable to make the changes Mamas want to see on a variety of policies.
Dickerson Williams was proud to speak alongside other advocates, mothers, Administration officials, and policymakers, including Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Grace Meng (NY-6), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Congressmen Andy Levin (MI-9), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and White House Gender Policy Advisor and Director of the Gender Policy Council— Jennifer Klein. Additional Members of Congress also attended, including Senator Cory Booker (NJ), who spoke remotely. Link: Bianca Dickerson Williams remarks to the Congressional Mamas' Caucus (https://fb.watch/eDGbt98b81/)
"While this traumatic childbirth experience is still very difficult to discuss publicly, I decided to speak out in the hopes of saving other women from this anguish and trauma, and frankly to help save the lives of Black and Indigenous Women," said Dickerson Williams. "It is heartening to be on Capitol Hill, to witness this level of support and commitment that has been made to current mothers, future mothers, and the mothers who tragically lost their lives on what should have been one of their happiest days."
Maternal Healthcare Expert Bianca Dickerson Williams
Key Speaker at Association of American Medical Colleges and
Women’s International Convention of Church of God in Christ
May is Women’s Health Care Month
Racism in Healthcare: Why is This Happening to Black/Brown Moms?
L.A. mom Bianca Dickerson Williams, Black Moms At Risk talks about race and misconceptions about socioeconomic status in the delivery room
Why is This Happening to Black & Brown Moms: Bianca Dickerson Williams explains the role of racism in healthcare (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQpAAMcV-L0&t=19s)
(LOS ANGELES) Maternal Expert and Attorney Bianca Dickerson Williams -- an L.A. mother who suffered catastrophic life-altering injuries at UCLA Medical Center during the delivery of her second child is speaking out about her experience. Dickerson Williams is the Founder and Executive Director of Fighting Our Injustices for Women of Color, is now a renowned expert on maternal healthcare for Women of Color during childbirth. Dickerson Williams will lead an entire day dedicated to Black Female Health at the 73rd Women International Convention of Church of God in Christ on May 29-June 2, 2023, in Orlando, Florida, to over 1000 African America women. Also, she’s the keynote speaker for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center for Health Justice’s Maternal Health Equity Workshop on May 18, 2023, a one-day virtual event. Dickerson Williams who is in high demand to discuss the role of racism in health care and the lack of understanding that all women of color, regardless of their socioeconomic status, are at risk of abuse and mistreatment in the delivery room.
Dickerson Williams experienced a 40-week pregnancy; she went to the hospital to have labor induced to accommodate her doctor’s schedule. She was in labor and had only dilated 2 centimeters after numerous hours. However, since she’d been under the epidural for several hours, she couldn’t move her legs without assistance. The doctor had a nurse put her legs into position for a Western-style vaginal birth, but the bed had no stirrups. Consequently, the nurse had to hold the left leg up during delivery. Just as the baby was coming out, the nurse looked away and let go of the leg. Dickerson-Williams’ leg dropped, an act that she would later learn caused catastrophic damage and would take her years to uncover.
When the pain still wasn’t subsiding, she had to begin the journey of finding a doctor who could diagnose her and order an MRI. As a result, she’s gone across the country to see various doctors in Chicago, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. She’s had several surgeries trying to correct the damage done by her leg being dropped and the botched repair job to her vagina.
“If you were to read my medical records, they read as if nothing happened to me. My medical records were altered. The hospital nurses and UCLA doctors attempted to cover up their negligence and I’ve been in litigation for almost seven years fighting for my life, fighting for my family, all while I’ve been sick,” said Dickerson-Williams.
“Instead of holding my baby in my arms that day, I was hoping and praying to God that I was going to make it out alive,” said Dickerson Williams. “Instead of owning up to their catastrophic mistakes, conducting tests, and finding solutions for the debilitating physical pain they caused, the hospital sent a social worker to evaluate my mental state and ask if I have diapers at home. I felt unheard, ignored, and humiliated.”
According to the Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), statistics about Black women and infants are as follows:
- In the USA Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.
- The USA has the highest maternal mortality rate amongst developed countries.
- In California, Black women are six times more likely to die due to complications whit in the first year of pregnancy than White women.
- In the USA Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy complications.
- Black women have a 70% increased risk for severe maternal morbidity.
- Indigenous women have the next highest morbidity and maternal health issues.
“I think that one of the things that have been most alarming and eye-opening for me is this notion that this is happening to black and brown women, simply because we are underprivileged, or we're uneducated. We don't have the financial means. We're in a lower socioeconomic bracket. We're on welfare, or we don't have access to good healthcare. And then you have me. I was overly educated. I have a Juris Doctor degree. I had top-of-the-line insurance, a PPO through Blue Cross Blue Shield. I lived in one of the best neighborhoods in the country, and I was at one of the best hospitals in the world. And this still happened to me. And the only thing that is present is the color of my face. And when I really sit in that, and I really think about that, it feels like someone is taking a dagger and stabbing me in my heart, over and over again. I am the confirmation that racism in the healthcare system and disparate impact and implicit bias are ever present in our healthcare system in this country.”
Learn more about Bianca’s experience in the documentary film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQpAAMcV-L0&t=19s.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floresdickerson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-dickerson-williams-j-d-aaaa79b/
Bianca Dickerson Williams Tells Her Story About Racism in Healthcare During Childbirth | The Hollywood Times
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