Meridian, MS - According to the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the maternal mortality rate has increased nationally through the years. In 2020, the rate per 100,000 live births was 23.8 rising to 32.9 in 2021.
“I believe and noticed with clients that I’ve had of the hospital staff kind of just dismissing women, and not necessarily believing women when they say that they feel something in their body; they can be dismissed and so I think that can have an impact on that.” Says Local Doula Samantha Zimmer.
When it comes to lowering the mortality rate, Local doula Samantha Zimmer of Meridian emphasized that listening to expecting mothers is key. “The mom obliviously knows her body very well, so I think it’s very important to listen to what mom is feeling.”
She also expressed the importance of advocating for the mother, and how patients can advocate for themselves. “One thing is you can have a doula, and if you can’t afford a doula or there are no local doulas, you can always have a family member advocate for you.”
Samantha says overall it’s important to understand the mother, to try and stop rate increases. “It’s her body, she knows what’s best for her body.”
Local doulas say that while there is no set reason that numbers are on the rise, they do believe things can be done to lower the number of maternal deaths in Mississippi.
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