A note before we begin this episode.

This week, we're talking about complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth,

which means we'll be discussing miscarriage, preterm labor,

and the sometimes heartbreaking statistics for pregnant people and babies in the United States.

This is a topic that both Maya and I care deeply about.

We also know it's a challenging conversation for some people. So please

take care while listening and seek help if you need it. You're listening to Well Now, Slate's

podcast on health and wellness. I'm Maya Fowler. And I'm Kibita Patel. For many, pregnancy is a time of

so many emotions, heightened, joyful anticipation, lots of doctors' appointments, tests, preparation,

all with a focus on bringing home a healthy baby. The other side of pregnancy, the complications,

the things that are messy, are not readily discussed. Despite being one of the richest nations in the world, the United

States has the highest levels of maternal and infant mortality amongst developed nations.

In 2022, the CDC counted more than 22 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. That's more than 10 times

the estimated rate for other rich countries like Australia, Japan, and Spain. The statistics get

even worse for black women. With that same CDC data showing we suffered 50 deaths out of 100,000 live births.

That was more than double the rate of maternal deaths for white women.

Black babies are also dying at alarming rates.

They're more than twice as likely to die in childbirth than white babies.

Then there are the myriad of other issues that could arise during pregnancy.

As many as half of pregnant people experience complications such as diabetes, hypertension,

or elevated blood pressure, infections, and unfortunately much more. And while this information

is not new, it continues to impact lives, scores of lives. Maya, you have a very personal story to

...