This is the Guardian. a black woman in the UK, you're four times more likely to die from childbirth than a white woman.

It's a shocking statement, but it is just one of the findings of a report published last week by MPs on the

racial disparities in maternal health.

And although the report's findings were described as shameful and appalling,

they won't have been surprising to the women from around the world

who have experienced what it's actually like to be black Asian and pregnant.

Due to my mixed heritage, even as a 30 year old pregnant mother of one,

I felt I was treated like I was having an unwanted pregnancy. I was

always asked how I felt about the pregnancy and even towards the last

trimester I had to reiterate I was in a loving relationship and this baby was planned.

That's Hannah. Her words are being spoken by an actress.

Rather than dressing in comfortable jogging bottoms or hoodies, I would go to my appointments dressed

as if I was going to work or for an interview.

I think I was doing it because I wanted to be taken seriously.

Campainers have long been saying that the discrimination seriously. and that I felt I had to prove that I wanted my baby and that I could look after it and that I cared about my baby's well being.

I don't feel like I should have had to prove that I wanted the best for my unborn baby.

So with the issue in the spotlight, we're asking, what's driving these racial disparities, and what needs to be done for things to change?

From the Guardian I'm Madeline Finley and this is Science Weekly.

Andrew Gregory, you're the Guardian's Health Editor.

Last week, the Women and Equality's Committee published a report which

aimed to get to grips with the problem of racial disparities and maternal health

and the evidence surrounding it. What did they find?

...