About birthincolor

birthincolor is a virtual learning miniseries created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project is supported by funding from the DeBartolo Family Foundation and HealtheVoice Impact Fun | Johnson & Johnson.

More Information

Learn More: ⁠⁠Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative⁠⁠

Support Our Work: ⁠⁠Donate to the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Episode Overview

Ashley Walker President of the Tampa By Breastfeeding Taskforce, and Dr. Angela Hill, join us for another special edition episode of birthincolor in honor Women's History Month which explores an critical period of the perinatal journey: the Fourth Trimester.

The postpartum period, also referred to as the “fourth trimester”, is an essential yet often overlooked part of the birthing and motherhood experience. In this discussion, we will dive into the postpartum experience in Black maternal health, including breastfeeding, mental health, pain management, and more.

About birthincolor

birthincolor is a virtual learning miniseries created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project is supported by funding from the DeBartolo Family Foundation and HealtheVoice Impact Fun | Johnson & Johnson.

Referenced Literature

Alimi, R., Azmoude, E., Moradi, M., & Zamani, M. (2022). The association of breastfeeding with a reduced risk of postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Breastfeeding Medicine, 17(4), 290-296. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2021.0183

Badreldin, N., Grobman, W. A., & Yee, L. M. (2019). Racial disparities in postpartum pain management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 134(6), 1147-1153. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003561

Bossick, A. S., Bossick, N. R., Callegari, L. S., Carey, C. M., Johnson, H., & Katon, J. G. (2022). Experiences of racism and postpartum depression symptoms, care-seeking, and diagnosis. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 25(4), 717-727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01232-w

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 28). Racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding initiation ─ United States, 2019.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7021a1.htm

Phillips, S. E., Celi, A. C., Wehbe, A., Kaduthodil, J., & Zera, C. A. (2023). Mobilizing the fourth trimester to improve population health: interventions for postpartum transitions of care. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 229(1), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.12.309

Recommended Citation

Dugat, V. (Host), Peoples, Z., (Co-Host), Hill, A. (Guest) & Walker, A. (Guest). (2025, March 28). The 4th Trimester (Ep. 5) [Audio podcast episode]. ⁠⁠In birthincolor. ⁠⁠DJ Brightlight Productions.

More Information

Learn More: ⁠⁠Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative⁠⁠

Support Our Work: ⁠⁠Donate to the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Episode Overview

Courtney Julien of the Tampa Bay Midwives, and Alyssa Bedard, join us for another special edition episode of birthincolor in honor and celebration of Black Midwives Day and Women's History Month.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates the association between improved maternal health outcomes and midwifery and doula care. strategies we can employ to expand the birth worker workforce and improve Black maternal health by empowering and increasing access to doulas and midwives.

About birthincolor

birthincolor is a virtual learning miniseries created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project is supported by funding from the DeBartolo Family Foundation and HealtheVoice Impact Fun | Johnson & Johnson.

Referenced Literature

Hoyert, D. L. (2025). Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2023. NCHS Health E-Stats, 289.

Kathawa, C. A., Arora, K. S., Zielinski, R., & Low, L. K. (2022). Perspectives of doulas of color on their role in alleviating racial disparities in birth outcomes: a qualitative study. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 67(1), 31-38.

Thomas, K., Quist, S., Peprah, S., Riley, K., Mittal, P. C., & Nguyen, B. T. (2023). The experiences of Black community‐based doulas as they mitigate systems of racism: A qualitative study. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 68(4), 466-472.

Vedam, S., Stoll, K., MacDorman, M., Declercq, E., Cramer, R., Cheyney, M., ... & Kennedy, H. P. (2018). Mapping integration of midwives across the United States: Impact on access, equity, and outcomes. PloS One, 13(2), e0192523.

Loewenberg Weisband, Y., Klebanoff, M., Gallo, M. F., Shoben, A., & Norris, A. H. (2018). Birth outcomes of women using a midwife versus women using a physician for prenatal care. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 63(4), 399-409.

Recommended Citation

Wilson, R. (Host), Tatam, M., (Co-Host), Julien, C. (Guest) & Bedard, A. (Guest). (2025, March 14). Important Role of Midwives & Doulas (Ep. 5) [Audio podcast episode]. ⁠In birthincolor. ⁠DJ Brightlight Productions.

More Information

Learn More: ⁠Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative⁠

Support Our Work: ⁠Donate to the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Episode Overview

Michelle Grimsley Shindano, the Director of Public Policy at the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, and Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of the Florida House of Representatives (District 67), join us for another special edition episode of birthincolor in honor of Black History Month.

Policy is imperative to developing a structurally sound framework that promotes optimal maternal health outcomes. In our discussion, we focus on understanding implications of upcoming policy changes, as well as identify ways to create lasting change through legislation. We also reflect on the impacts of existing policies and envision future policies that seek to ultimately improve the health outcomes for Black mommas, babies and families.

About birthincolor

birthincolor is a virtual learning miniseries created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project is supported by funding from the HealtheVoices Impact Fund and Johnson & Johnson.

Referenced Literature

Alam, S., Nandi, U., Scarborough, S., McNeill, E., Callison, K., Shi, L., & Gamble, A. (2024). Maternal Health Legislation Enacted in Three Southeastern States in the United States Between 2018-2023: Policy Surveillance. Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 65(5-6).

Buchbinder, M., & Sabbath, E. L. (2025). Reproductive Healthcare After Dobbs: Rethinking Obstetric Harm in the United States. Medical Anthropology, 44(1), 6-21.

Recommended Citation

Fross, M. (Host), Wilson, R. (Cohost), Driskell, F. (Guest) & Grimsley Shindano, M. (Guest). (2025, February 28). Policy & Advocacy (Ep. 4) [Audio podcast episode]. In birthincolor. DJ Brightlight Productions.

More Information

Learn More: Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Support Our Work: Donate to the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Episode Overview

On this episode of birthincolor, we kick-off our celebration of Black History Month with a special episode focused on systemic transformation. Dorian Odems, Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Davis, and Xonjenese Jacobs, the director of Florida Covering Kids & Families at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, join us to discuss the historical implications racial oppression, contemporary forms of obstetric racism and identify strategies to transform systems of care to improve outcomes and birthing experiences among Black Mommas and babies in Florida.

About birthincolor

birthincolor is a virtual learning miniseries created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project is supported by funding from the HealtheVoices Impact Fund and Johnson & Johnson.

Referenced Literature

Odems, D. S., Czaja, E., Vedam, S., Saltzman, B., & Scott, K. A. (2024). “It seemed like she just wanted me to suffer”: Acts of obstetric racism and birthing rights violations against Black women. SSM-Qualitative Research in Health, 6, 100479.

Davis, D. A. (2019). Obstetric racism: the racial politics of pregnancy, labor, and birthing. Medical Anthropology, 38(7), 560-573.

Okwandu, I. C., Anderson, M., Postlethwaite, D., Shirazi, A., & Torrente, S. (2022). Racial and ethnic disparities in cesarean delivery and indications among nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-11.

Hoyert, D. L. (2025). Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2023. NCHS Health E-Stats, 289.

Sealy-Jefferson, S. (2022). Injustices in Black maternal health: a call for different research questions, orientations, and methodologies. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 860850.

Recommended Citation

Fross, M. (Host), Bell, M. (Cohost), Odems, D. (Guest) and Jacobs, X. (Guest). (2025, February 14). Acknowledging the Past & Reframing the Future (Ep. 3) [Audio podcast episode]. In birthincolor. DJ Brightlight Productions. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/fl-black-maternal-health-

More Information

Learn More: Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Support Our Work: Donate to the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative

Episode Overview

This episode of Birthincolor is dedicated to the important role of men in the movement for reproductive justice, birth equity and Black maternal health. We believe men, fathers and father-figures play a critical part in improving pregnancy outcomes among Black Mommas and babies.

Hosted and co-hosted by Dr. Marshara Fross and Z'kera Peoples, our guests include community experts, Mr. Michael Morgan, the Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at REACHUP, as well as Mr. Michael Thomas, the Executive Director of Family Support at One More Child. In this episode, we discuss strategies to engage men in the reproductive justice movement, the disenfranchisement of Black men and fathers, and the impact of fathers on pregnancy outcomes.

Birthincolor was created by the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. This project was supported by funding from the HealtheVoices Impact Fund at the Community Foundation of New Jersey and Johnson & Johnson.

Referenced literature

Alston, T. L., Davis, E., Rubio, D., & Norman, M. (2024). African American Fathers as a Solution to the Maternal Health Crisis. Social Work in Public Health, 39(7), 638-649. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2024.2376091

Russell, K. N., Withrow, A., Voith, L., Vernon, C., Lee, H., & McKinney, S. (2024). Exploring low‐income, Black fathers' strengths and barriers to positive change using qualitative methods. Family Relations, 73(3), 1799-1822. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12956

Recommended Citation

Fross, M. (Host), Peoples, Z. (Cohost), Morgan, M. (Guest), and Thomas, M. (Guest). (2025, January 20). Men in the Movement: Engaging Dads & Men in Black Maternal Health. (Ep. 1) [Audio podcast episode]. In birthincolor. DJ Brightlight Productions. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/fl-black-maternal-health-