Dr. Myah Griffin, MD, FACOG is from Columbia, South Carolina, where she received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina. She then attended medical school at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville. During her studies in medical school, her passion for maternal health and improving outcomes for pregnant people of color was sparked.
She completed her OB/GYN residency in Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) at NYU-Langone Health in New York. As an MFM physician with Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Griffin takes care of high-risk pregnant individuals who often have or are at risk for pregnancy complications. She is involved in research efforts to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. She also serves as the medical director for MSM’s Center of Maternal Health Equity.
She spoke to rolling out publisher and CEO Munson Steed about the state of maternity care.
[Editor’s note: This is an extended transcription. Some errors may occur.]
Munson Steed: Hey, everybody! This is Munson Steed and welcome to another edition of Health IQ, where we increase your edification and information. We provide topics for what I would consider the most important aspect of your entire life — your health. I am so proud of this dynamic young woman who has taken the time out of her life to dedicate saving the lives of others by becoming a doctor. One caveat is, no matter what you do, establish a relationship with a healthcare provider and physician that you can trust, and bring an advocate.
So, I’ll start by saying that. Maternal mortality is a real issue for all of us. The sad part about it is, maybe 60% of it can really be saved, and we know that much. We also know that there’s a huge issue, Dr. Myah, as it relates to that 6 weeks after [pregnancy] but for you, you’ve decided to kind of dedicate your practice to women who have some real concerns, and they should recognize them. Can you introduce us to your practice and why you have chosen and selected to practice where and and how you do today? Please.
Dr. Myah Griffin: Yes, yes, thank you so much for that introduction. I’m Dr. Myah Griffin. I am a maternal field medicine specialist with Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. As a maternal fetal medicine specialist, this is something that I have wanted to do ever since I kind of laid eyes on the field of obstetrics. Delivering babies is just one of the beautiful parts of it, but also there are some scary parts that don’t necessarily have to be scary.
But there’s some serious complications that can happen, and that’s what I have focused my life and my training on is taking care of women with these high risks of obstetrical complications so that we can work towards eliminating this issue that we’re facing in our country with this high maternal mortality rate, especially among Black women and Black pregnant people.
MS: When you think about the beauty of motherhood, and yet the cost of what it really costs women to be pregnant, what would you say if you were sitting there with even brothers? How can we be better? As an older, more mature brother, how can I be better at, one, supporting and carrying a message just to be kinder, more empathetic, and more conscious for my sisters, and understanding that this is a major life-challenging moment? That we need to recognize and maybe pivot on how we even approach our sisters other than just “Oh, she’s pregnant.”
MG: Yeah, like you said, pregnancy is really a beautiful time. So, is the postpartum period. So is motherhood. But you know it’s a very taxing time. It takes a lot out of you physically, emotionally, spiritually as well. It’s trying, especially if you have complications in your pregnancy or things just aren’t going the way that you anticipated, or plan for it to go. And I think the way that our men could support us is by educating yourself by being aware of things that we are facing.
And, first off, we just have to be open and honest with you guys about these troubles that we’re facing. These are the complications that I’m asking and asking for help and being present, and even if we don’t ask for it, know that we do still need you there, even if it’s something just as simple as just being present in the prenatal visits, or just being an ear to listen to on the phone but just lending a hand in any way that’s possible.
MS: I love that. I was really trying to be even more, poke the tiger a little bit more in understanding that. We probably need to have a few questions that all brothers and obviously mothers and aunties understand. Thank you so much for what you give to the community by just being an example of a woman who is there. So a woman doesn’t have to always look at a man when it comes to being a doctor. You’re there.
But why and how should I have a kind of a checklist as a brother? What should we say? “Are you bleeding heavily?” Is that something we should say? With just some touch points that, for those of us who need crib notes. I know you didn’t need any. What can we kind of do some hacks? Because I think the cultural hack is, somebody’s pregnant or brother may not. Did your blood pressure go up? Is your blood pressure high? Just so that we have talk points that are loving and concerned, so that we too can ask as partners. And I’m saying, men and obviously women.
MG: Yeah. So, as Black women, we are more likely to have preeclampsia, which is a high blood pressure problem in pregnancy that not only affects your blood pressure, but also all organs in your body. And so, I think, as women, one of the warning signs of Preeclampsia is a headache and a lot of time. We, as women, say “Oh, I have a headache” and just brush it off. But I think something that men can ask like, “Oh, you have a headache? How long has it been? Have you taken any medicine? Have you drunk some water? have you had a rest?”
Probing and asking more probing questions to say, “Hmm! This may be a little bit more different than what you normally experience or usually experience” and say, “Hey, maybe we should go get you some medical attention, to make sure that you’re okay.” Also, if they’re having abdominal pain or cramping or contractions. Those are other things that you can ask about, If you feel comfortable going that route as well.
MS: I’m really concerned with even how we socialize pregnancy after really interviewing, I think it’s been 4 doctors for me. And obviously, Dr. Edmund is a classmate. I’m just a little concerned, maybe even the baby shower need some reinvention or to be reimagined so that we’re not just thinking and this is me spitballing, because I’m I’m not a physician, but I think culturally, we might wanna change how we look at the baby shower and understand who’s going to surround her during this time.
MG: Yeah.
MS: The advocates, what are your thoughts?
MG: I agree, like with the baby shower. It’s a baby shower. So, everybody comes with the focus, and with coming to celebrate a baby, and that’s a blessing, and that’s what part of it should be. But we should also focus and celebrate mom. Mom is spending all 24/7, 280 plus days sometimes, carrying this pregnancy and going through all the physical changes that are associated with it. And so, we should be showering her and giving her gifts, uplifting her, pouring into her and knowing that she has a village, and knowing that the village that’s present is the village that she can seek and actually go to when needed.
And we always focus on celebrating pregnancy but also we gotta look at women after we have the babies. Over 50% of the mortality rates that we’re seeing, or after babies are delivered. And so, we also need to pour into our moms even after delivery, and not even just, 2 weeks after, 4 weeks after, 6 weeks out, like months after, because motherhood isn’t easy. I’ve had so many examples of that in my life that I can see how hard it is, and trying to prioritize taking care of your family, and you’re also trying to work and pay bills. And it’s a lot.
And I think, everyone is needed, especially our men to be present, even if it’s doing just little things like, putting gas in the car, or going to get groceries or sending food, like just little things like that can make an impact. You’re just checking in and actually saying it, not just saying, Oh, how are you? But actually ask like, How are you? What is it that I can do for you to help you? Are you feeling okay physically? Are you having a headache? Are you having a lot of bleeding? Are you having pain, that’s just out of normal? Do I need to take you to the doctor?
Even if somebody says no, like I think you really should let me come and help you. Let me take you, or let me do something to help you, so that you can go do the things you need to do to take care of yourself.
MS: Yeah. And I was thinking about the shower, or if there was a person, a medical advocate for week one, medical advocate for week two, medical advocate for week three, so that she has an advocate as she’s going back. And she has an advocate, they can at least have a checklist. I know, hearing the mom during this moment, and while she’s pregnant is a real issue. Why is the hearing part such a quagmire for all those women who go in, particularly Black women. Obviously, we’ve had famous women that have gone in and say, “Hey, I got an issue. I know this issue before. I’ve dealt with it,” and yet they’re not being heard. What’s that about?
MG: I think there’s a lot of cultural bias, a lot of unconscious bias that’s out there. And it’s gonna take a lot of education for everyone in healthcare, even us, as Black physicians or people of color that are physicians like, we still need to educate ourselves about the biases that we may have towards people. I honestly, just really don’t understand, somebody comes in and says that they’re in pain, that you just easily write it off. And maybe the doctor feels like they’re doing everything or sorry, the medical team feels like they’re doing everything they can to figure out what is causing the pain, but really trying to take the time to listen.
And even if you’re not figuring out something right away. It doesn’t hurt just to keep somebody in the hospital overnight to help you run more tests, or just observe somebody longer to help you figure it out. In medical training, as an OB, we’re really only taking care of and being trained about the medical side of things like giving medication, running labs, and not so much like the social aspect. And so, something I’ve learned over this week from interacting with midwives and Doulas is that, with Doulas they’re like a great health advocate, that all patients are able to have that intimate social relationship with a patient.
So that you know they do get that check in right after delivery and getting help with lactation and all those things, because it’s not always easy to be able to access the doctor. Going to the emergency department is timely and it’s costly. And so, having somebody like a Doulas, a patient navigator like we have at our center for maternal health equity to help bridge that gap there, so that you know people can more easily get the attention that they need. And know, these are things that, It may be okay, or you really need to go seek some help for this.
MS: I like the aspect of the Doula and finding an advocate that really, culturally is connected to your pregnancy. If you’re gonna give a speech, and you’re gonna give it at the American Medical Association as a Black woman. What would you ask them to do and change about the bias to just really sticks out to you that could kind of begin to save lives and kind of make new steps toward a cultural reckoning, as it relates to women and maternal mortality?
MG: Just because Black women are 2 to 3 times more likely to die in pregnancy complications. It’s not just a Black problem. It’s everybody’s problem and we need everybody to help fix this issue for all of us. And we really have to look at each person as a person, you wanna say treat somebody, treat me like you would treat your mother, but not everybody likes Mom. So, treat me as you would treat your favorite female family member and regardless of race, color, creed, religion.
We all really need to step up to the plate and do everything that we can to help this issue for everybody, because nobody should have to experience it. No baby should have to experience going home with the mom. No dad should have to experience having to take a baby home without a mom like that’s not something that’s acceptable in any home, any country, any place in this world.
MS: Super. Well, I wanna thank you for all you continue to do, and I’m so proud of you, and all that you dedicated your life to changing and transforming this industry in the lives of moms. And obviously, those who you bring into the world. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Munson Steed. This is Dr. Myah Griffin. She is so phenomenal. Look forward to great things from her. We’ll see you again on Health IQ.
