In May, Rep. Lauren Underwood engaged with mothers in West Baltimore to address persistent disparities in maternal health, mental health, and navigating healthcare systems. During this event at Baltimore Unity Hall, local resident Iyonna Woods shared her experiences as a mother and healthcare professional, highlighting the challenges encountered during childbirth. Woods emphasized that knowledge and access do not exempt anyone from these issues.
According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women, with 80% of these deaths being preventable. Maryland’s maternal mortality rate from 2020 to 2024 was 20.5 deaths per 100,000 live births overall, but 31.3 among Black women, as reported by the Maryland Department of Health.
Chezia Cager, a board member of Lifting Up All Families (LUAF)—a nonprofit founded by Underwood to support maternal health equity—underscored that Baltimore, despite having prominent hospitals and medical schools, continues to see disproportionately poor outcomes for Black mothers. The discussion illustrated the link between local experiences and broader national conversations in Congress on maternal health equity.
