Dr. Janell Green Smith dedicated her career to helping Black women safely give birth, having participated in over 300 births as a certified nurse-midwife in South Carolina. Yet when the 31-year-old became pregnant herself, she could not escape the stark disparities she fought against. On January 1, just days after delivering her daughter Eden via emergency C-section, Green Smith died from childbirth complications.
Green Smith entered midwifery specifically because of “alarming statistics” about Black maternal health, wanting to become a provider who would listen when patients reported pain. Her commitment to her work was extraordinary. Penelope Bowman, a longtime nurse midwife at Charleston Birth Place, recalled how Green Smith approached her role with kindness and gentleness, showing up to work even on her days off and always encouraging new parents. She engaged deeply with families, and people gravitated toward her enthusiasm, love, and concern.
The tragedy underscores devastating statistics: Black mothers face maternal mortality rates of 47.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 18.3 deaths nationally. That means Black women are more than 2.5 times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. Green Smith knew these numbers intimately—her home state ranked among the top 10 highest maternal mortality rates in the country.
The American College of Nurse-Midwives noted that Black women face disproportionate risks “regardless of education, income, or professional expertise” due to systemic racism and care failures. The National Black Nurses Association emphasized the bitter irony: Green Smith’s knowledge did not shield her, and her credentials did not protect her. More than 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
See: “A midwife’s death days after childbirth complications reignites the conversation around Black maternal health” (January 10, 2026)
