The maternal mortality crisis continues to have a profound effect on the country.

The United States has the highest number of pregnancy-related deaths of any developed

nation.

And during the pandemic, those numbers increased.

According to a near report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maternal

mortality rose for the third consecutive year in 2021.

The number of maternal deaths was 1,205 in 2020, that's up from 861 the previous year.

The maternal mortality rate jumped 54% for Hispanic women, 39% for white women, and 26% for

black women.

And while the CDC's report covers maternal mortality during the height of the pandemic,

factors like age and other pregnancy-related illnesses factored into the number of deaths

reported.

Why do Americans continue to die during childbirth at a higher rate than other developed nations?

What resources do expecting parents have to combat the crisis?

We'll discuss those questions with our panel and hear your stories.

I'm Jen White, you're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the

story.

We've got a lot to get into so stay with us.

Let's get into the conversation.

Joining us to discuss is Dr. Jamila Parrott.

She's an OB-GYN working in DC and the president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Dr. Parrott, welcome back to the program.

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