Black maternal mortality in the United States remains a serious public health crisis. Black women are nearly 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the U.S. In a recent interview, R&B singer, Summer Walker, shared that she “almost died” giving birth to her two children.
In an interview with Mariah The Scientist for Summer Walker’s Over It Radio show, Walker spoke a bit about what it was like giving birth.
“The second one, it sucked bad. Real bad,” Summer told her guest. “But, believe it or not, the second birth was shorter than the first one.” She went on to say that giving birth to her twins the second time around lasted “seven hours.” The 29-year-old admitted that giving birth the first time around lasted over 52 hours long.
Walker added, “That s—t was bad. All of it’s bad.” She admitted that she “almost died both times.”
The Grammy-nominated musician shares her first-born, daughter, Bubbles Renee Walker, with rapper London on Da Track. Bubbles was born in 2021. In 2022, she welcomed her twin boys, whose names have yet to be shared publically, with rapper LVRD Pharoh.
Summer has been very open about giving birth to all of her children at home. Additionally, she has also been vocal about being a staunch advocate for paid parental leave.
In a video montage, posted in January of last year, Walker shared statistics on parenthood and work in the United States, in conjunction with announcing her partnership with Bobbie.
“One in four women living in the US returns to work within two weeks of giving birth. At two weeks I was just beginning to physically, mentally and emotionally heal from giving birth so to know that parents are going back to work in this fragile state is just devastating. It’s time for the government to pick up the slack. 84% of all Americans support federal paid leave, and yet 73% of private sector employees don’t have it,” she began her caption of the social media post.
She concluded, “This is why I’m proud to partner with @bobbie to help put money in the pockets of families who need it: $580, to be exact—the minimum monthly benefit under the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, if passed. All you have to do is tell us your leave story and what $580 would mean to you. Link in our bio to apply. This is no way sponsored by Instagram. Applications are open until January 26, 2024. #parentspushharder #passpaidleave #bobbiepartner.”
Photo: Summer Walker Instagram; GuyXPhoto/Instagram