Black Maternal Health Week: Woman says she lost child, experienced lack of care during birth process
Khalia Jones, of New Rochelle, said she learned that she had an incompetent cervix when she was pregnant with her son back in 2017.
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As Black Maternal Health Week comes to an end, a New Rochelle woman is speaking out about the lack of care she says she experienced as she lost a child during the birthing process.
Khalia Jones, of New Rochelle, said she learned that she had an incompetent cervix when she was pregnant with her son back in 2017.
The condition eventually resulted in her being rushed to the hospital to give birth at just 21 weeks along in her pregnancy.
"I was in labor, however, my son was fine. Everything was OK, but the doctors pressured me to make a decision as to whether or not I wanted to have him," Jones said.
Jones said her providers forced her to be induced, although she was one week away from fetal viability.
"They told me that my son could potentially be born deaf, blind, have learning disabilities and went through the full gamut of all the reasons why it wouldn't make sense for me to have a child that would have problems," Jones said.
Unfortunately, when she did give birth, the baby didn't make it.
"He came out. He took a breath. I held him and that was it," Jones said.
Sadly, she said the tragedy didn't end there as her own life was also at risk during the birthing process.
The entire experience haunted her so much that she had PTSD when she got pregnant and gave birth to another baby, years later.
"It is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your life, and so to constantly be placed with fears around your child passing, or you passing, is a horrible, horrible space to be in," Jones said.
Jones said she believes her journey to motherhood could have been different if her providers listened to her concerns.
"Don't let them stop you from asking all of the questions. Feel empowered to say, 'I need a minute to make a decision," Jones said.
Although difficult, Jones said she shares her story at Sister to Sister International birth equity events so she can help other Black moms along the way, too.
Black Maternal Health Week is observed annually April 11- 17.
