Race and Perinatal Complications: What The Unexpected Misses About Social Determinants of Health

Social factors are highly influential on perinatal outcomes, particularly when complications occur. One particularly impactful social factor in the United States is racism. This article uses a case study of the 2024 book The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications to demonstrate how the exclusion of information on racism changes recommendations in prescriptive literature, making them less accurate or complete for readers of color. There is a need for a more direct and evidence-based approach in public communication about perinatal health, one that addresses social determinants including racism. The article concludes with implications for practice for childbirth professionals who are considering whether to recommend The Unexpected to patients or clients.