Black Maternal Health in Nebraska: Why Early Pregnancy Care Matters
October is Black Maternal Health Month in Nebraska, a time to raise awareness about the health of Black women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period — and to recognize the work still needed to improve outcomes for moms and babies across our state.
For women who may be pregnant, that conversation can begin much earlier than labor and delivery.
It can begin with a late period. A positive pregnancy test. Or simply the thought: Could I be pregnant?
Knowing where to turn for reliable information early in pregnancy can be an important first step. At Assure Women’s Center, women in the Omaha area can receive pregnancy testing, medical information and, when appropriate, a limited obstetric ultrasound and STI testing and treatment— all at no cost.
Because when you think you might be pregnant, you deserve answers.
Black Maternal Health in Nebraska: What the Numbers Show
Black women and babies continue to experience significant health disparities both nationally and here in Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the odds of pregnancy-related death in Nebraska are 3.2 times higher for non-Hispanic Black mothers than for non-Hispanic White mothers. Nebraska’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee also reports that nearly 90% of pregnancy-related deaths reviewed from 2014 through 2023 were determined to be preventable.
The disparities also affect babies.
A 2025 Flatwater Free Press analysis of federal data found that Nebraska had the fourth-highest infant mortality rate in the country for babies born to Black mothers from 2019 through 2023. During that period, Black babies in Nebraska were 2.6 times more likely to die before their first birthday than babies born to white mothers.
Nebraska data also shows disparities in serious pregnancy complications. State data for 2017–2021 found that non-Hispanic Black women experienced severe maternal morbidity at a rate of 86.8 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations, compared with 43.8 per 10,000 among non-Hispanic White women. (DHHS)
These numbers deserve attention — but they are more than numbers.
They represent women, babies and families in communities across Nebraska.
Why Do Black Women in Nebraska Face Greater Pregnancy Risks?
There isn’t one simple explanation for disparities in Black maternal health.
An April 2026 publication from the Olson Center for Women’s Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center discusses how factors such as access to health care, housing, nutrition, education, financial strain and chronic stress can affect health long before pregnancy begins.
Access itself can also be a challenge. More than half of Nebraska counties have been identified as maternity care deserts, meaning they lack local obstetric services.
Improving maternal health, therefore, isn’t simply about what happens in the delivery room. It includes helping women access information, medical care, support and community resources throughout pregnancy and after their babies are born.
And that makes knowing where to begin important.
Think You Might Be Pregnant? Start With Answers.
If your period is late or you’ve taken a positive home pregnancy test, you may have a lot of questions.
Am I really pregnant?
How far along could I be?
Is everything okay?
What am I supposed to do next?
You don’t have to have everything figured out before asking for help.
At Assure Women’s Center in Omaha, we’re here to help you take the first step.
Our medical services include:
- No-cost pregnancy testing
- Limited obstetric ultrasound when medically appropriate
- STI testing and limited treatment
- Medical information and education
- Referrals and connections to community resources
An ultrasound may provide important information about a pregnancy, including its location, whether cardiac activity is detectable at that stage and an estimate of gestational age.
From there, we can help you understand your next steps and connect you with appropriate ongoing prenatal care.
Assure does not replace prenatal care. If you are pregnant, establishing care with an OB-GYN, family medicine provider or other qualified prenatal provider is important for your ongoing health and your baby’s health.
Your Health Is Only Part of the Picture
Pregnancy doesn’t happen in isolation.
You may also be thinking about school, work, finances, relationships, housing, family or what having a baby could mean for your future.
You may feel excited. You may feel scared. You may feel both at the same time.
That’s why Assure approaches pregnancy through Whole-Person Care.
Your Health
What’s happening with your pregnancy?
We can help you get reliable information through pregnancy testing, ultrasound when appropriate, STI testing and limited treatment, and medical education.
Your Life
What could this pregnancy mean for your life?
We give you space to talk about relationships, school, work, finances, family, housing, support and other practical concerns. When additional help is needed, we can connect you with community resources.
Your Heart
How are you really doing?
Your emotions, fears, values, relationships and beliefs matter, too. We provide a safe place to process what you’re experiencing. Spiritual conversations are always optional and based on what you want to discuss.
You deserve the time and space to understand the whole picture before deciding what comes next.
Early Answers Can Be an Important First Step
Black Maternal Health Month reminds our community that every woman deserves to be heard, supported and treated with dignity throughout pregnancy.
It also reminds us that support can begin from the very first questions about pregnancy.
If you live in Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Elkhorn, Gretna, Council Bluffs or the surrounding area and think you may be pregnant, you don’t have to wait until you know exactly what you want to do.
Start with answers.
Assure Women’s Center offers no-cost pregnancy testing and other early pregnancy services in Omaha. Our team can help you understand what’s happening with your pregnancy, talk through what’s on your mind and determine an appropriate next step.
No cost. No pressure. No judgment. Just a clear next step.
Think You Might Be Pregnant?
Whether your period is late, your home pregnancy test was positive or you simply aren’t sure what’s going on, Assure can be your first step.
Schedule a no-cost appointment at Assure Women’s Center in Omaha.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a free pregnancy test in Omaha?
Assure Women’s Center offers pregnancy testing at no cost at its Omaha-area clinics. An appointment can help you confirm your pregnancy and determine what additional services may be appropriate.
When should I take a pregnancy test after a missed period?
Pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG, which begins increasing after implantation. Testing after a missed period generally provides more reliable results than testing very early. If you have a negative test but your period still doesn’t start, you may need to test again. Schedule a no-cost appointment at Assure to meet with our licensed medical team.
Why is early pregnancy care important?
Getting reliable information early can help you understand your pregnancy, address health questions and begin connecting with appropriate ongoing prenatal care and other resources. Early and regular prenatal care allows a medical provider to monitor the health of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy.
Does Assure provide prenatal care?
No. Assure provides early pregnancy services including pregnancy testing, limited obstetric ultrasound when appropriate, STI testing and limited treatment, medical information, support and referrals. If you are pregnant, Assure can help you identify next steps.
How much do services at Assure Women’s Center cost?
Assure’s services are provided at no cost to patients.
Do I have to know what I want to do about my pregnancy before coming to Assure?
No. You don’t have to have your next step figured out before making an appointment. Assure provides a place to get information, ask questions and consider what’s important to you without pressure.
