NORFOLK, Va. — Heather Wilson lost her daughter — and nearly her life — the first time she gave birth. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, resident developed a potentially fatal condition and her blood pressure skyrocketed during labor.
During her second pregnancy, she sought out a doctor specializing in high-risk cases, thinking it would ensure she received the best care. But Wilson said the staff skipped crucial steps, such as testing for the condition that led to her firstborn’s death, and it routinely dismissed her questions and concerns.
“They just didn’t take me seriously and I think it had everything to do with the color of my skin,” said Wilson, a Black woman.
