allyson felix I want to see changes in the healthcare industry.
In a recent interviewmeet the press” said the track and field Olympian about how she is using her voice to ensure that pregnant Black women receive the full health care services they deserve. today.
For Felix, this fight is personal.
In 2018, she endured a difficult pregnancy due to complications associated with pre-eclampsia. Her scariest moment came during her 32nd week of pregnancy, when things became “serious” and led to a state of emergency. Caesarean section.
“They were always worried that I was going to have a stroke and lose my vision,” she explained. “We were admitted to the hospital and told that our goal was to stay in the hospital for two more weeks to continue the pregnancy. And I gave birth later that night.”
She continued: “It’s been very fast progress. But I know that if I hadn’t given birth, I wouldn’t have had it, or my baby, or both of us.”
Before giving birth, Felix said she had no idea about the effects of medical conditions on black women, including high blood pressure.
“I felt like I should have known I was in danger,” she said. “I felt like I should have been told the signs to look out for. Instead, I wasn’t. I didn’t know what pre-eclampsia was. I didn’t know that the swelling in my legs was more than just a sign of pregnancy. I didn’t understand that it could be pre-eclampsia. So I felt like I was getting great medical care, but that’s not always enough.”
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that affects some pregnant women and may be diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In addition to high blood pressure, symptoms include vision changes, kidney or liver dysfunction, headaches, and chest pain. Preeclampsia Foundation.
Black women are reportedly 60% more likely to develop preeclampsia during pregnancy than white women. Rochester Regional Health.
Felix’s teammates on the U.S. women’s 4×100 meter relay in May Tori Bowie She died eight months into her pregnancy due to complications during childbirth.
Bowie’s sudden death was “absolutely shocking”.
“This is the reality for black women giving birth in America,” Felix told the outlet. “And there are a lot of situations like this. So I hate that it takes such a devastating loss to bring it back to the forefront. But it’s something we have to do better. That is also my motivation.”
Felix believes health care disparities exist due to a lack of implicit bias training and Black women being afraid to speak up about matters related to their health.
“There are countless stories of women not being listened to when they’re in the delivery room (and) at the doctor’s appointment. I don’t think there’s a need to be prepared to advocate for yourself,” she said. .
