New Jersey Community Calls For Postpartum Care Law Changes After A Black Woman Passes Away Weeks After Giving Birth Due To A Blood Clot!

A community in Newark New Jersey is mourning the tragic death of a thirty-year-old woman just weeks after giving birth to a baby girl!

According to ABC News, Dreeah Austin passed away two weeks after giving birth at St Barnabas Hospital due to a pulmonary embolism. Reports read that pulmonary embolisms are the third leading cause of death for Black women before and after death.

On July 21st Dreeah had headed out to handle a routine errand alongside her nephew. Shortly after starting her car she endured a seizure and lost consciousness. Dreeah was rushed to the hospital and was ultimately taken off life support two days late after doctors stated she had no brain activity and would not gain functionality.

The mother of two passed away due to a blood clot that traveled to her lung that originated from her first pregnancy. Officials state the blood clot was preventative and should’ve been monitored.

“She should have been started on the right medicine,” said Dr. Nastassia Harris of Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. “She should have been followed up closer after the delivery. There are likely a lot of things that could have been done differently.”

“I could be the best father. I could be the greatest dad in the world, but I can’t be her mom,” said father Saladeen Merritt.

Family and friends gathered outside of Newark City Hall on Thursday October 10th advocating for policy changes in postpartum care as well as advanced education for healthcare providers regarding risks women of color often race.

According to reports from Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, nine out of ten maternal deaths are considered preventable with more than half occurring after a woman gives birth.

New York State pregnancy related deaths have been determined to occur five times higher among Black women than white women and seven times higher in New Jersey.

“This broken system. How they treat our people. Because my lady is just another name on the list that’s going to keep going and going and going If we don’t do something,” Merritt said. “So, I just want Dreeah’s name to be the last name possible.”

“I refuse to just let Dreeah be another statistic.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been established on Dreeah’s family behalf to help assist them with expenses.