We are proud to announce that Birth By Us, the pregnancy and postpartum app made by Black women for families like yours, is now available in the App Store (https://lnkd.in/gxT4wRz4) and we owe it all to our moms 🤎
Black women, and specifically Black mothers are often regarded as pillars of resilience, but it’s these same narratives that keep us from feeling seen, heard, and valued in so many of society’s spaces – healthcare being top of the list.
Ijeoma Uche, MPH: My mom came to the U.S. with nothing and built a family from the ground up. During her pregnancy with my sister, she unknowingly experienced preeclampsia, describing the pain as my sister "pinching" inside her. When the pain worsened, she went to the hospital, and just minutes later, she began having contractions and passing out. The doctor said if she had arrived moments later, she might not have survived, leaving me and my two siblings behind.
Mercy Oladipo: My parents immigrated to the U.S. with dreams of increased opportunities for our family. They slowly adjusted to life in Chicago, and remember the organizations and resources that got them through the first years (WIC, Salvation Army, etc). And when my grandma (my namesake) passed away just before she could come and support my mom in her postpartum period, these social support services also served as beacons of community in a country where we truly knew no one.
Birth By Us is a love letter to our moms and all the parents and families who routinely feel unheard and unseen in their care journeys. Listening to hundreds of mothers, partners, clinicians, birth workers, and more we’ve crafted a product equipped with:
🏥Health tracking for moms, like Ijeoma’s, who wish they would have known the signs
🫂Community for moms, like Mercy’s, who often felt alone
📚Culturally-competent resources for everyone who has picked up a pamphlet at the doctor’s and thought “This wasn’t made for me”
And so much more.
We began this journey as students striving to gain a deeper understanding of persistent issues in maternal health disproportionately affecting our community, and now, we’ve dared to dream big and reimagine what maternal health can and should look like for communities like ours, now and for generations to come.
We are building a future where our sisters, our friends, and ourselves can grow our families without fear. We are immensely thankful for your belief in us.
We have users in 43 states and have already heard how BBU has helped them understand their bodies and communicate their needs and symptoms to their providers. We’re excited to continue listening and evolving as we release new features to create a comprehensive app for all families and amplify the work of community organizations and birthing professionals.
As they say, it takes a village so please share Birth By Us with your networks and if you have any feedback, insights, or support to offer; feel free to reach out!
🤎🖤
