After a traumatic birth experience in Cleveland, Ohio at a well-known hospital, I honestly thought I might become a statistic. I am an educator who has a passion for health disparities, especially in physical therapy and Black maternal health. Being a professor and woman of color, I thought that I would be able to advocate for myself to ensure a good birthing experience, but that wasn’t the case. I take great care of my body and was in great health. I had a birthing plan. I was at one of the best hospitals in the country. There was no way anything could go wrong, right? But my eyes were completely opened to the fact that no one is immune to this reality. My lived experience taught me that I could have in fact died during childbirth and I’m certain that countless other families have learned this very painful lesson.
On my second pregnancy, with hopes to cultivate a better birthing experience, I returned to my previous OB who is a woman of color and was monitored by the MIST Team during my pregnancy and postpartum. The Garmin and the MIST team gave me the support and information I needed to ensure a better experience. I was being monitored daily on the dashboard, had a sturdy foundation of education, and support was built through zoom and phone calls. The team’s legacy building and increased vigilance of women of color addresses disparities and the Black maternal health crisis.
I am so thankful they were a puzzle piece to me in having a better birthing experience. I can’t be more proud or inspired by the MIST team. Thank you for making me a better mother, centering the voices of Black mamas, enhancing community and national research on black maternal health, and most importantly, for supporting Black mothers in one of the most important times of their lives.
MIST Mom Dr. Briana Partee, PT, DPT, Ohio
