Story perspectives

Tatyana Ali Pushes Black Maternal Health After 2016 Restraint

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 3:27 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Actress Tatyana Ali advocates for Black and Indigenous maternal health after doctors restrained her in her 2016 delivery.
She said doctors performed the rare Zavanelli maneuver.
Ali founded Baby Yams, which donates to the Birth Future Foundation supporting Black and Indigenous birth-worker grants.
In 2024, 649 women died of maternal causes, with Black mothers over three times more likely to die.
Dr. Tamika Auguste says bias endangers Black patients.

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Story summary

Actress Tatyana Ali advocates for Black and Indigenous maternal health after doctors restrained her in her 2016 delivery.
She said doctors performed the rare Zavanelli maneuver.
Ali founded Baby Yams, which donates to the Birth Future Foundation supporting Black and Indigenous birth-worker grants.
In 2024, 649 women died of maternal causes, with Black mothers over three times more likely to die.
Dr. Tamika Auguste says bias endangers Black patients.