Honoring Black Maternal Health Week: Holding Space for Loss, Grief, and Hope

Each year from April 11–17, we recognize Black Maternal Health Week a time dedicated to raising awareness about the disparities Black women face in maternal health, advocating for better care, and amplifying our voices. But within this conversation, there is a layer that is often overlooked… pregnancy loss and grief.

For many Black women, the journey to motherhood is not just filled with joy, it can also carry silent heartbreak.

The Reality We Don’t Talk About Enough

Black women are disproportionately affected by complications during pregnancy, including preterm birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, and conditions like incompetent cervix. Yet, when loss happens, the grief is often minimized, rushed, or misunderstood.

We are often labeled as strong.
And while strength is a beautiful part of who we are, it can also become a burden.

Because the truth is
many of us feel like we have to perform that strength.

We feel like we have to hold it together.
Push through.
Keep going.
Stay silent.

Instead of being given the space to feel…
to break…
to grieve openly without judgment.

But grief is not weakness.
Grief is love with nowhere to go.

My Story, My Truth

I know this pain personally.

I have experienced pregnancy loss, multiple times. I’ve felt the emptiness, the confusion, the questioning, and the deep ache that lingers long after the moment has passed.

There were moments I felt unseen.
Moments I had to advocate for myself.
Moments I questioned God.

But through it all, I also experienced His presence in ways I can’t fully explain.

Making Space for Both Grief and Faith

One thing I’ve learned is this:

You can grieve deeply…
and still have faith.

You can question…
and still believe.

You can mourn what was lost…
while holding onto hope for what’s ahead.

Black Maternal Health Week is not just about statistics, it’s about stories.
Stories like yours. Stories like mine.

Advocate for Yourself

If something feels off during your pregnancy, speak up.

Ask for the ultrasound.
Request the additional monitoring.
Seek a second opinion if needed.

Your voice matters.
Your life matters.
Your baby’s life matters.

Why I Wrote My Book

After walking through loss and healing, I felt called to share my journey to let other women know they are not alone.

My book,
Incompetent but Hopeful: Finding God’s Purpose Through Loss and Holding onto Hope,
It is a reflection of that journey.

It’s for the woman navigating grief.
The woman searching for answers.
The woman trying to hold onto faith when it feels impossible.

To the Woman Reading This

If you’ve experienced loss
I see you.

If you’re grieving
I honor you.

If you’re holding onto hope by a thread
keep holding on.

God is still writing your story.

During this Black Maternal Health Week, let’s do more than raise awareness.

Let’s hold space.
Let’s listen.
Let’s support.

And most importantly
let’s remind every Black woman that her story matters…
in joy and in grief.