The death of midwife Janell Green Smith has ignited a deep sense of grief and urgency within her community and beyond, highlighting the ongoing crisis in Black maternal health. Green Smith, who dedicated her career to supporting Black women during childbirth, passed away on January 1, 2024, following severe complications after giving birth to her daughter, Eden, born prematurely just days prior.
Green Smith, aged 31, was admitted to the hospital on December 24 after developing severe preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related condition that can lead to high blood pressure and other complications. Her family celebrated her pregnancy with joy, as her due date, February 25, coincided with the birthday of her husband Daiquan Smith’s late great-grandmother. However, complications arose after Eden’s early arrival on December 26, leading to Green Smith’s tragic death less than a week later.
This incident has drawn attention to alarming statistics surrounding maternal health in the United States. Black women face a significantly higher risk of mortality during childbirth compared to their counterparts of other races. According to recent data, the national maternal mortality rate stands at 18.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, but this figure rises dramatically to 47.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women. For context, in Norway, a nation with a comparable per capita income to the U.S., the maternal mortality rate is just 1 death per 100,000 live births.
Green Smith’s passing has sparked renewed outrage from health organizations that advocate for maternal health equity. The American College of Nurse-Midwives expressed its heartbreak over her death, labeling the situation as both “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” The organization emphasized that systemic issues, including racism and healthcare disparities, put Black mothers at a greater risk during pregnancy and childbirth.
As a midwife, Green Smith was acutely aware of these disparities. She entered the field motivated by the alarming statistics surrounding Black maternal health and was determined to make a difference. In a video shared on social media in April 2024, she expressed her desire to be part of the solution and to listen to her patients’ concerns.
Despite her professional experience, Green Smith faced the same healthcare challenges that many Black mothers encounter. During her pregnancy, she did not have a midwife present, a decision complicated by potential conflicts of interest within her workplace. When she was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve, doctors determined that an emergency C-section was necessary. Although the procedure was initially successful, complications arose during her recovery.
Her family has recounted that on December 29, Green Smith experienced a significant complication when her incision opened, leading to further emergency surgery. Tragically, her heart stopped beating just days after giving birth, leaving her loved ones in a state of shock and mourning.
In the wake of her death, vigils have been held in Greenville, South Carolina, where she lived, and in her hometown of Charleston. Friends, family, and colleagues have gathered to honor her legacy and advocate for change in the healthcare system. Nichole Wardlaw, Green Smith’s aunt and a fellow midwife, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “Janell was fighting with all of the rest of us who are tired of, day in and day out, looking at these numbers. She was my comrade in this fight. And now she is gone.”
The healthcare community is now calling for accountability and reforms to ensure that no other Black mother faces the same fate as Green Smith. The National Black Nurses Association emphasized that Green Smith’s credentials and professional expertise did not protect her from the systemic failures that led to her tragic outcome.
The tragic loss of Janell Green Smith underscores an urgent need for systemic change in maternal healthcare, particularly for Black women. With more than 80% of maternal deaths deemed preventable, experts argue that the healthcare system must address the ingrained biases and disparities that perpetuate this crisis.
As the community grapples with this heartbreaking loss, the call to action remains clear: “We cannot continue to lose our women,” as Wardlaw poignantly stated. The fight for maternal health equity continues, but with the memory of Green Smith as a catalyst for change.
