Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) is set to face a terrifying ordeal in upcoming Coronation Street scenes as the ITV soap explores racial injustice in maternity care.
Viewers will know that Dee-Dee found out she was pregnant last year, but due to the baby’s paternity and her Christian beliefs, she was unsure about what to do.
Terrified that the baby would constantly remind her of Joel Deering, Dee-Dee decided to have a termination, and was supported by her family.
However, the news of Dee-Dee’s decision left Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) devastated.
Lauren’s own baby, Frankie, was in need of a stem cell transplant, and with Dee-Dee’s baby being his half-sibling, it was likely that it would be a match and could save his life.
After much consideration, Dee-Dee decided to go through with the pregnancy so that Frankie would have a donor, before giving the baby up for adoption.
‘She felt like she could take her emotions out of it because of the child’s paternity,’ actress Channique Sterling-Brown explained.
‘Obviously she wants the best for the child, but as far as she’s concerned, she’s very much like: “This is what we’re doing. End of story, end of discussion”.
‘She’s been cracking on, until it all comes to confront her…’
More recently, Lauren left Dee-Dee with mixed emotions when she told her that they had found another donor for Frankie, and in upcoming scenes, he is set to undergo the operation.
‘I think she’s trying to keep a lid on it, but the bottom has fallen out of the plan, as far as she’s concerned,’ Channique added. ‘I think it was the right decision for her in the moment and it felt like the logical thing.’
As Dee-Dee pays a visit to the hospital to reassure Lauren that the transplant will be a success, she is suddenly struck with pain.
She describes what she’s feeling to a midwife, who encourages her to go home and rest.
However, at the flat, her waters break, and she soon heads back to the hospital in agony, where Ed Bailey (Trevor Michael Georges) tries to find someone who can help.
When a passing midwife makes an inappropriate comment, Ed and Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) are left in shock.
Meanwhile, a doctor takes Dee-Dee’s blood pressure and informs her that she is suffering from pre-eclampsia, and the baby will need to be delivered immediately, leaving her terrified.
Will the baby be okay?
Things take a sudden turn when Dee-Dee suffers a haemorrhage, and has to undergo life-changing surgery.
Alone with Ed, Dee-Dee emotionally reveals that she had to have an emergency hysterectomy and won’t be able to have any more children. Concerned Ed urges her to think carefully about whether she really wants to give up her baby.
Later, Dee-Dee reveals to Alya and Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) that her hysterectomy was entirely avoidable, and because it was a result of gross negligence, she plans to make a formal complaint.
Fully in support, Alya agrees to help her start the process. Will Dee-Dee get the justice she deserves?
‘I think the story we’re trying to tell is one of truth,’ Channique explained. ‘There is no malice in any of Dee-Dee’s treatment, but it is the case of an overstretched and understaffed ward that she ends up on.
‘She’s not being fully heard, potentially because of assumptions that are being made.’
Experts say...
Birthrights co-CEOs Janaki Mahadevan and Shanthi Gunesekera said:
‘It’s extremely important that a show like Coronation Street is highlighting the experiences of Black women in maternity care. The data has long shown how Black women are more likely to suffer physical and psychological harm through pregnancy and birth. Our Race Inquiry documented some of the experiences behind these statistics including consistent failure to identify medical conditions due to skin colour, racial stereotyping and breaches of consent.’
Christina Brown, Founder/CEO and Health Equity Expert of The Motivational Mums Club said:
‘There are the Black mothers who sadly, unfortunately have died and lost their lives. But there are the mothers who almost did. The psychological trauma of going through that, the psychological trauma of their families going through that is something that needs more awareness and addressing.’
FiveXMore founders Clotilde and Tinuke said:
‘We acknowledge that the NHS is under immense pressure, and we welcome recent announcements regarding improvements in maternity care. However, systemic change is essential to ensure that Black women receive the safe, respectful, and equitable care they deserve.’
Coronation Street have been working closely on this storyline with three organisations; Birthrights, a charity that was set up to protect human rights during pregnancy and childbirth; Motivational Mum’s Club who empower mothers and birthing people to make informed choices and be able to advocate for themselves and FivexMore, the UK’s Leading women’s health organisation focused on Black maternal health.
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In 2021/2022, Birthrights carried out a year-long inquiry into racial injustice in maternity care to understand more about the experiences that sit behind the statistics that show that Black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
‘I think it’s just really important to spark conversations,’ Channique said. ‘Having heard some of these stats, the imbalance is shocking.
‘The biggest thing when people hear these stats is they just assume it must be global, but no, we’re talking about right here in the UK.’
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