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Black Babies Matter
Babies born to Black women in the U.S. have a higher incidence of prematurity than babies of other women. Babies born prematurely (<37 weeks’ gestation) need more medical help at birth. As they grow, they often have more trouble getting along with other children, poorer attention in school, and eventually more mental illnesses, because of early problems in their brain development.
One reason for the increased incidence of prematurity is Black women’s high level of stress. A Black women’s chronic stress from racism, social injustice, and early childhood abuse can be measured as high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol causes her to retain choline in her own body’s organs, lowering the choline level in her blood flowing to the placenta and fetus. Low blood levels of choline are the link between high stress, high cortisol, and increased rates of premature delivery and problems in the baby’s brain development. Even with good diets, many Black women’s choline level remains too low to help their baby because of their high cortisol.
Unfortunately you cannot change your stressful history or current problems, but you can get your baby the extra choline that it needs by taking choline supplements. Most Black women who received choline supplements in our studies delivered their babies at full term, 39-40 weeks. These children had many fewer problems with attention and getting along with others at 4 years of age. Your choline supplements can help ensure that your baby does not suffer inequality with other babies on his or her first day of life.
The late Dr. Carl Bell, a beloved community activist and child psychiatrist on Chicago’s South Side, convinced the National and American Medical Associations to recommend choline for all pregnant women. Dr. Bell’s article is available from Black Babies Minds Matter.
Read more: Targeting Treatment to Health Disparities
One reason for the increased incidence of prematurity is Black women’s high level of stress. A Black women’s chronic stress from racism, social injustice, and early childhood abuse can be measured as high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol causes her to retain choline in her own body’s organs, lowering the choline level in her blood flowing to the placenta and fetus. Low blood levels of choline are the link between high stress, high cortisol, and increased rates of premature delivery and problems in the baby’s brain development. Even with good diets, many Black women’s choline level remains too low to help their baby because of their high cortisol.
Unfortunately you cannot change your stressful history or current problems, but you can get your baby the extra choline that it needs by taking choline supplements. Most Black women who received choline supplements in our studies delivered their babies at full term, 39-40 weeks. These children had many fewer problems with attention and getting along with others at 4 years of age. Your choline supplements can help ensure that your baby does not suffer inequality with other babies on his or her first day of life.
The late Dr. Carl Bell, a beloved community activist and child psychiatrist on Chicago’s South Side, convinced the National and American Medical Associations to recommend choline for all pregnant women. Dr. Bell’s article is available from Black Babies Minds Matter.
Read more: Targeting Treatment to Health Disparities
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