A Midwife’s Death Days After Childbirth Complications Reignites the Conversation Around Black Maternal Health

January 16, 2026

Janell Green Smith, a 31-year-old certified nurse-midwife and doctor of nursing practice in South Carolina who dedicated her career to helping Black women give birth safely, died on January 1 after developing severe preeclampsia on Christmas Eve. Despite her extensive medical expertise in maternal health, Green Smith became part of the devastating statistic she fought against: Black mothers in the United States die from childbirth complications at a rate of 47. 4 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly three times higher than the overall national rate of 18.

Who is affected

Janell Green Smith (deceased)
Baby Eden (Green Smith's newborn daughter)
Daiquan Smith (Green Smith's husband)
Nichole Wardlaw (Smith's aunt and fellow nurse midwife)
Penelope Bowman (longtime nurse midwife and Green Smith's mentor)
Green Smith's former patients and their families
Black mothers and pregnant women in the United States
The midwifery community, particularly Black midwives (who comprise less than 9% of midwives nationally)
Prisma Health employees and colleagues
Communities in Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina

What action is being taken

Wardlaw and family members are trying to find out exactly what happened during Green Smith's medical care
Vigils are being held in Greenville and Charleston
The American College of Nurse-Midwives and National Black Nurses Association have issued public statements expressing outrage
National organizations are drawing renewed attention to Black maternal mortality issues

Why it matters

Green Smith's death exemplifies the stark and persistent racial disparities in maternal healthcare in the United States, where Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at nearly three times the rate of the general population. The tragedy is particularly significant because Green Smith was a maternal health expert who dedicated her career to addressing these exact disparities, yet her professional knowledge and credentials could not protect her from becoming another statistic. Her death demonstrates that systemic racism and healthcare failures affect Black women regardless of their education, income, or expertise, and it underscores that more than 80% of maternal deaths are considered preventable. The case highlights the urgent need for systemic change and accountability in addressing what the CDC considers largely preventable deaths.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint