The Birth Squad

Black women in the United States are still significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes — and this disparity is not explained by education, income, or genetics. So what is actually driving it?

In this season finale, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello have the honest conversation that too many people are still afraid to have:- Why Black women enter pregnancy carrying both excitement and fear at the same time.

- Why maternal morbidity and mortality often starts quietly — with a headache, swelling, or fatigue that feels different

- How bias in healthcare shows up subtly and why small moments of dismissal can become dangerous fast

- Why Black women second guess themselves before speaking up and how that delay can become deadly- The postpartum warning signs that should never be ignored — preeclampsia, blood clots, cardiomyopathy, infection and more

- How support systems including doulas, partners, and community can help identify complications earlier

- Why postpartum is one of the most medically vulnerable times, and what needs to changeThis is not just a statistic. These are real women. Real families. Real stories.And when women are heard earlier, supported better, and taken seriously the first time — outcomes improve. That is the standard every patient deserves.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #MaternalMortality #BlackMothers #PostpartumHealth #BlackWomensHealth #KnowYourRights #HospitalBirth #Preeclampsia #BirthAdvocacy

Everyone prepares for the birth. Almost nobody prepares for what comes after.

In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down what the postpartum period actually looks like and why so many women are left feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unprepared the moment they get home:

• Why postpartum recovery takes far longer than anyone tells you
• The physical realities of healing after vaginal delivery and C-section
• How hormone shifts and sleep deprivation make everything feel heavier
• Why your identity, relationships, and sense of self all shift at once
• The pressure to "bounce back" and why it's completely unrealistic
• The "Want, Need, Help" system for building real postpartum support
• When to pay attention to your mental health and ask for help early

Because postpartum is not just physical recovery. It's a full life transition — physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. And it was never meant to be survived alone.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts — link below.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #PostpartumRecovery #BlackMaternalHealth #PostpartumMentalHealth #BlackMothers

"Your baby is healthy. That's all that matters." — But what happens when the birth itself feels traumatic, even when the outcome is good?

In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down:

• Why birth trauma is defined by how the experience felt — not just the medical outcome
• How loss of control and lack of communication during emergencies can lead to trauma
• Why a healthy baby does not erase a traumatic birth experience
• The real disparities in who feels heard, believed, and supported during labor — especially for Black women
• What birth trauma can look like postpartum and why it's often left unaddressed
• How to ask for a birth debrief and the questions that help your mind process what happened
• When to seek mental health support and what signs to pay attention to

Because two things can be true at the same time. Your baby can be healthy and your birth can still have been traumatic. Your experience matters. Your feelings matter. And you deserve support while processing both.

🎧 Listen now — link below.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthTrauma #PostpartumMentalHealth #BlackMothers #HospitalBirth #MaternalMentalHealth #BlackWomensHealth #BirthExperience #LaborAndDelivery

You've decided on an epidural — so do you really still need a doula? Two Black OB-GYNs are answering this question once and for all.

In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down:

• Why an epidural treats pain but does not replace support
• What doulas actually do in the labor room beyond pain management
• Why your need for support doesn't stop once the contractions do
• How doulas support your partner and help them stay calm and involved
• Why your doula is the only person in that room whose full attention is on you
• What the research says about continuous labor support and better birth outcomes
• How the best labor rooms are collaborative — doula, nurse, and provider working together

Because labor is bigger than contractions. It's communication, decision making, and emotional presence. And those needs don't disappear just because the pain does.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #DoulaSupport #HospitalBirth #BlackMothers #EpiduralBirth #LaborAndDelivery #BlackWomensHealth #ContinuousLaborSupport #Doula

You're in labor and your provider recommends something you weren't expecting — and you don't know how to push back without seeming difficult or putting your baby at risk.

In this episode, two Black OB-GYNs break down:

• Why interventions get recommended and what's really happening in that moment
• How to slow down the room and ask questions without creating tension
• The BRAIN tool — the 5-question framework every pregnant woman needs to know
• How to advocate for yourself without saying no
• The difference between real urgency and perceived pressure
• What your care team owes you even when time is limited

Because asking questions is not the same as refusing care. And when you understand your options — you stop feeling powerless.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthAdvocacy #HospitalBirth #PatientRights #BRAINTool #LaborAndDelivery #BlackMothers #BlackWomensHealth #KnowYourRights

S4 Ep3: The Truth About Birth Plans Nobody Warns You About | The Birth Squad Podcast

You spent hours on your birth plan — but what actually happens when labor moves fast and decisions have to be made in real time?

In this episode, two Black OB-GYNs break down:

• Why your birth plan doesn't always get followed line by line
• What providers are actually focused on when things shift quickly
• The difference between a birth plan and a birth preference
• What to include so your voice is still heard even when things change
• Why flexibility isn't giving up your power — it's protecting it
• How a doula can bridge the gap between your plan and your care team

Because the goal was never to control every moment. It's to make sure what matters to you is understood — no matter what happens in that room.

🎧 Listen now — link below.

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#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthPlan #HospitalBirth #BlackMothers #BirthPreferences #KnowYourRights #LaborAndDelivery #BlackWomensHealth #MaternalHealth

You're contracting. It's real. It's painful. You go to the hospital — and they send you home.

Hours later, you're back. Exhausted. Further along than they thought. So what actually happened?

In this episode, Dr. Ijeoma Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas break down one of the most common — and most misunderstood — experiences in labor: being sent home from triage when your body says otherwise.

What you'll learn:→ How hospitals actually decide when to admit you — and what "active labor" really means→ Why early labor can last hours or days and still not meet admission criteria→ Why being sent home doesn't mean you're not in labor→ Who has the power to make that call — and how much it depends on who's in the room→ The exact questions to ask before you leave triage

🎙️ Season 4 is HERE — and we're kicking it off with the conversation every Black woman deserves to have before she ever steps foot in that delivery room.S4E1 — The Birth Room Power Struggle: When a C-Section Changes Everything.Hosted by Dr. Ijeoma Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas — two Black OB-GYNs with over 20 years of combined experience — pulling back the curtain on what's really happening behind the scenes when labor shifts fast.In this episode:🩺 Why your doula might be turned away from the OR🩺 Who actually has the power in that delivery room🩺 What hospitals don't tell you before a C-section🩺 How to protect yourself and your birth support before labor startsThis is not just a podcast. This is your blueprint.—📲 Stay connected with The Birth Squad:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthsquad/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthsquad—#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #Season4 #HospitalBirth #BirthRights

Are your most important birth moments fully explained? Or are you missing the real story behind your delivery?

As OB-GYNs with 20+ years of experience, Dr. Ijeoma Bello & Dr. Kimeshia Thomas are pulling back the curtain on labor and delivery. No fluff, just real talk about the decisions, the dynamics, and how you can stay in control — especially if you’re a Black woman expecting.

Knowing what’s happening means moving differently, asking smarter questions, and ultimately changing the outcome. This isn’t just about prep; it’s about strategy.

Are you ready to be empowered in your birth journey?

#BirthSquad #BlackMamasMatter #BirthTruths #Season4

What have we learned about birth, loss, recovery, and resilience this season? A lot.

In this reflective Season 3 recap of The Birth Squad, Dr. Ijeoma Okwandu Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas sit down to discuss the powerful themes, stories, and lessons that shaped this year’s conversations. From postpartum recovery to infertility, pelvic floor health to pregnancy loss, we dive into the core truths about motherhood—both the beautiful and the painful.

This episode is for anyone navigating the complexities of pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery. It’s a space to honor every path, empower every decision, and embrace the power of community in maternal health.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✔️ Why postpartum care is often overlooked—and why that must change

✔️ Why we must talk openly about pregnancy loss

✔️ How pelvic floor therapy can change your life

✔️ Why a skilled birth team is essential when things don’t go as planned

✔️ The role of community in sharing and supporting our stories

🎧 Whether you're a new mom, a birth worker, or someone supporting a loved one— you’ll leave this episode more informed, more connected, and more empowered.

💬 This season, we were especially honored to share the deeply moving episode with Dr. Margaret Towolawi, a family medicine physician, author, speaker, and founder of Nurture Well Center and SkinStatMD. 

In her episode, Dr. Towolawi bravely shared her personal experience with cervical insufficiency and second-trimester pregnancy loss.

Her vulnerability and clinical insight created space for healing and awareness around a condition that is too often misunderstood. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Towolawi for trusting us with her story—and for helping so many others feel seen, validated, and less alone.

🩺 Connect with Dr. Margaret Towolawi:

📘 Ayomide’s Train Ride to Graceland – Dr. Towolawi’s children’s book honoring pregnancy loss: Buy on Amazon

Website: www.margarettowolawimd.comPrimary Care: www.nurturewellcenter.comSkin Care: www.skinstatmd.comInstagram: @dr.margaret.towolawi

💛 If you’ve experienced loss, or if any part of this season resonated with your journey—we want to hear from you. Share your story in the comments. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. You are not alone.

🎙️ The Birth Squad is where real moms share real stories.

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to help us uplift more voices in maternal health.
#TheBirthSquad #MaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthStory #RealTalkHealing #CommunitySupport