Aramide

Hi Everyone, I want to share something I’ve been quietly working on. After my own experiences navigating maternity care, both as a midwife and as a Black woman, I’ve felt a deep call to create space where Black women are listened to, supported, and not left to navigate these systems alone. I am launching 'The Black Maternal Advocate' an independent, trauma-informed maternity advocacy service for Black women. The Black Maternal Advocate is currently a space for education, awareness, and advocacy around Black maternal health. This work exists because too many Black women are not heard or believed when raising concerns in pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Advocacy should not require strength you don’t have, or language you’ve never been taught. I will be offering 1:1 virtual advocacy sessions, In a calm, confidential space to talk through what’s been happening in your care, help you prepare for appointments, and support you to raise concerns safely and clearly. Client support will be opening soon 🤍 When advocacy sessions become available, I’ll share clear information about how to work with me. I’m taking time to ensure that the support I offer is: • Trauma-informed • Ethically boundaried • Sustainable and safe This is not medical care, and it does not replace your healthcare team. It is about being heard, held, and supported as you navigate maternity services. I’m holding this work gently and intentionally. For now, thank you for being here, for learning, and for holding space for this work. /theblackmaternaladvocate?igsh=YnFkanRybDJ1emN1

Happy New Year Everyone I am excited to see what 2026 brings Thank you for coming on this Journey with me... Let's Go #midwife #disability #HealingJourney #maternity #blackwomen

Hey everyone, I can't wait to share this journey with you. Come along! #Mum #Midwife #Disability #Faith #Healing 🤍

Many women recognise when something doesn’t feel right during pregnancy or after birth. Trust your instincts and seek support when needed. Your concerns deserve to be taken seriously. #PregnancySupport #BlackMaternalHealth #TheBlackMaternalAdvocate

There is something deeply sacred about choosing to go back to your roots, literally. Ten months ago, I began one of the most intentional chapters of my life: the beginning of my micro-loc journey. Strand by strand, coil by coil, my hair was set on a path of transformation. And what a beautiful path it has been. From the very first day, I embraced every stage, even when my locs were small, short, and still finding their way. I never needed them to be longer to love them. I loved them exactly as they were. So many people struggle in the beginning. The in-between stages, the awkward lengths, the moments when locs look undecided about what they want to be. But I made a choice early on: I was going to love every single phase. And that choice has made all the difference. Because growth is not just about the destination. It's about honoring the journey, the budding, the maturing, the settling into themselves. My locs are doing exactly that right now. They are maturing. They are locking. They are becoming more and more beautiful themselves every week that passes. Natural hair is powerful. It carries history, identity, and an energy that simply cannot be replicated. Choosing locs was not just a style decision; it was a declaration. A declaration of self-love, of returning to something authentic, of letting my hair live freely in its truest form. Ten months in, and my heart is full. My locs are growing. My confidence is rooted. My love for my natural hair has only deepened with time. This journey is mine, and I am so grateful for every single day of it. Thank you to my sister @moyomama @locinbloom 🤎 I love my locs. 🤎

Today is International Women’s Day 🤍 I’m a Midwife, disabled mum of three (including twins), and founder of The Black Maternal Advocate. My experiences of pregnancy, birth, motherhood and working within maternity services have shaped the work I now do. There was a time when my life changed completely. I went from being fully mobile and working full-time to becoming disabled, using a wheelchair, and relying on carers and the support of family and friends. For a long time I felt embarrassed by this change, but I’ve come to realise that accepting and embracing it took a different kind of strength. That strength now fuels the work I do. Too many Black women and Black birthing people still feel unheard or dismissed when navigating maternity care. Through The Black Maternal Advocate, I support Black women and birthing people to understand their rights, raise concerns confidently, and navigate maternity services safely. If you are navigating pregnancy or birth and need support, please know you don’t have to do it alone 🤍 #InternationalWomensDay #BlackMaternalHealth #Motherhood #BirthAdvocacy #TheBlackMaternalAdvocate

Last week, I shared my story with health professionals across the East of England. From my living room. On Teams. As a former midwife. As a patient. As a disabled mother. Thank you @tendainzirawa for inviting me to speak at the MatNeo Patient Safety Network meeting for Health Innovation East. I spoke about preventable harm. About raising concerns after my Caesarean birth and not being believed. About pain being explained away. About delays that changed my life. I spoke about becoming a wheelchair user. About PTSD. About losing my career. But I also spoke about something bigger. About how Black women’s pain is often minimised. How presenting “calmly” can mean you are overlooked. How advocacy should not depend on how loud you are. And I introduced @theblackmaternaladvocate the organisation I founded so Black women do not have to navigate maternity care alone. Because while systems take time to change, pregnancies do not wait. It was emotional. It was honest. It was necessary. Black women should be believed the first time they speak. The work continues 🤍 #BlackMaternalHealth #PatientSafety #maternitycare #TraumaInformedCare #AdvocacyMatters

Last week, I had the privilege of sharing my lived experience at a closed evidence hearing with Baroness Amos, as part of the Race Equality Engagement Group. I spoke about my maternity journey, the good care, the trauma, and how it changed my life. I spoke about race, inequality, and what must change to improve outcomes for Black, Asian and ethnic minority families. I spoke about @theblackmaternaladvocate why it exists and why it matters. Thank you to the REEG, especially Rohit Sagoo, for this opportunity. Thank you Baroness Amos, Dr Ekechi and Baroness Lawrence for your empathy. After I finished speaking, feeling emotional and heavy, Lord Simon Woolley passed me a handwritten note that read: “Thank you for your bravery.” I will never forget that moment. Grateful to the REEG and the Cabinet Office 🤍

Welcome to Episode 9 It's been a busy month but here we go. Thank you once again for listening and watching. #shareyourstory #blackwomen #maternity #God

A Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🌲✝️ We hope you had a beautiful time, however you spent it. This time of year can be bittersweet, filled with both joy and sadness. But one thing will always remain: the hope of the world, Jesus Christ. #christmasisaboutjesus #christmas #Jesus #Hopeoftheworld

Episode 8 🤎 Thank you for listening to my story. As a black woman in healthcare, I'm constantly aware of how I present myself. While I strive to avoid conforming to racial stereotypes, sometimes it can be detrimental to the patient care I receive. #advocateforyourself #pain #reliving #mystory

It was an honor to be invited by the Race and Equality Engagement Group to participate in the discussion around Tackling racial inequalities in maternity and Neonatal Health. It was powerful sharing my story and experience with a room full of people who are passionate about changing the narrative of racism in healthcare. The atmosphere was filled with truth, honesty, and innovative ideas that promote real action. If we can make positive and real changes for the benefit of the minority, then we will make positive changes for the benefit of everyone. #racialinequality #maternalhealth #racism