01/08/2026
When a Black maternal health advocate and professional dies from pregnancy-related complications, it should stop us in our tracks.
This was someone who understood the system, worked within it, and fought to make it better. And still—she died.
That truth matters.
It reminds us that Black mothers continue to face higher risks, often having their pain or concerns dismissed. It reminds us that education alone is not always enough—and that preparation, advocacy, and strong support systems can be lifesaving.
If you are pregnant, postpartum, or supporting a Black mother:
please take symptoms seriously, ask questions, bring support to appointments, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
Honoring her life means refusing to treat these losses as normal—and continuing the work she cared so deeply about.
This should stop us all in our tracks. We lost Dr. Janell Green Smith, a respected midwife, maternal health expert and advocate, to childbirth complications. She spent her life helping others give birth safely. And still, she died. Her education did not protect her. Her expertise did not save her. H...