Lessons from my own pregnancy and the organizations fighting for better maternal health care
You’ve seen the headlines—our country is facing a maternal health crisis. But what does that mean? In the U.S., a woman today is more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than her mother was. Despite our country’s wealth and medical advancements, maternal mortality rates have worsened, and women across the country—especially those in rural areas or from marginalized communities—struggle to access basic care.
I’ve learned a lot about these systemic issues through our work with leading organizations in the maternal health care space, and as a new mother myself, I’ve experienced my own trial by fire in our health care system.
Even in the best circumstances, navigating pregnancy care in the U.S. requires immense self-advocacy. And for those facing systemic barriers, the hurdles can be insurmountable.
While I can’t compare my experience to a woman living in rural Iowa whose local hospital may have closed their labor and delivery unit, or to a mom of three who doesn’t have health insurance or paid time off to attend prenatal appointments, it was still shocking how much it takes to feel healthy and safe as a pregnant woman in the U.S.
What are the three biggest barriers impacting maternal health?
While the maternal health crisis stems from many factors, there are three key issues that stand out to me: lack of access, inadequate research and innovation, and stark racial disparities.
- Care deserts: Millions of women live in maternal care deserts, or areas without adequate access to OB-GYNs or certified nurse-midwives, which has only been exacerbated by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Abortion restrictions have caused providers to leave states where they fear doing their jobs, not to mention other consequences, such as women being denied lifesaving emergency care for miscarriages because of technicalities in the law.
- Lacking research, dire outcomes: A majority (80%) of maternal deaths are preventable— and this is due in part to lack of research, innovation and investment in OB-GYN care. For example, preeclampsia is on the rise, yet the model to identify and treat this condition has remained largely unchanged over the past 100 years. Even when women are able to access care, issues like maternal mental health, a leading cause of death, often fail to be addressed in standard protocols.
- Racial and ethnic disparities: Disparities in maternal health are glaring—Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, regardless of income or education. This is unacceptable, and access to health care isn’t the only barrier. Research has found that Black women have consistently reported feeling mistreated and unheard when receiving medical care during pregnancy.
What is CURA doing to create change?
Despite these grim realities, organizations are working tirelessly to drive change, and CURA is proud to support some of these efforts. One such organization is The Leapfrog Group, a leading patient safety organization that evaluates hospitals on specific measures, including key maternity care standards such as C-section rates, nurse-midwifery support and lactation services.
One of Leapfrog’s most significant achievements related to maternal health outcomes has been its role in reducing early elective deliveries—in other words, inductions or C-sections performed before 39 weeks without medical necessity. These procedures carry serious risks, including increased NICU admissions, longer hospital stays and higher costs for patients and payers.
In 2010, Leapfrog first publicly reported hospital-level rates of early elective deliveries, revealing a staggering national average of 17%. This transparency, coupled with efforts from stakeholders like the March of Dimes and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, led to a nationwide push to discourage unnecessary early deliveries. By 2016, the rate plummeted to just 1.9%—an 84% reduction.
Leapfrog’s success demonstrates how public accountability can drive systemic change, empowering both hospitals and expectant mothers to make informed decisions. Check out their 2025 Maternity Care Report for the most recent data and insights.
CURA also supports the Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), a leading provider organization working to improve maternal outcomes in hospitals across the U.S. by offering a model of care that optimizes health equity, improves emergency response and alleviates physician burnout and staffing shortages. OBHG is highly focused on bringing the latest evidence-based practices to communities who may be relying on outdated methods and advocating for the role of certified nurse-midwives to improve patient outcomes.
At a more local level, CURA supported the work of Mamatoto Village, a D.C.-based non-profit committed to improving Black maternal health outcomes and supporting Black women throughout their perinatal and postpartum journeys. In D.C., Black moms account for about half of births but 90% of pregnancy-related deaths. Mamatoto is working to address this issue is through a partnership with MedStar Health and Community of Hope called the Safe Babies Safe Moms initiative. CURA helped to spotlight this program in a Washington Post feature story. By providing women with much needed services like perinatal home visiting, community doula care and childbirth education, the initiative is making progress in improving Black maternal health in the DMV area.
What can moms do on a personal level?
While I experienced significant privilege in my pregnancy—including access to excellent health care, flexible work hours to attend OB appointments and generous paid maternity leave—I still found navigating the system challenging. Appointments often feel rushed, mistakes happen with lab orders and care instructions, and I’ve learned firsthand that if I don’t ask the right questions, I may not receive all the information I need to make the best decisions for myself and my baby.
No mother should have to fight to be heard, but in our current system, self-advocacy can be critical. That’s why tools like the BRAIN acronym can help expectant mothers make informed choices and engage in productive conversations with their providers:
- B: What are the benefits? How might this positively impact me or my baby?
- R: What are the risks? Are there any potential downsides?
- A: What are the alternatives? Are there other options?
- I: What are my instincts telling me? Do I feel comfortable with this decision?
- N: What if I do nothing? Can this wait, and what happens if I don’t act now?
By keeping these five questions in mind, moms can feel more confident and empowered when making decisions. However, self-advocacy should not be a mother’s burden alone. The responsibility also lies with health care systems, providers and policymakers to eliminate disparities, listen to women’s concerns and ensure that high quality maternal care is accessible to all.
My husband, Mick, and I are pictured here with our daughter Keeley, who is now 3 months old.
Where do we go from here?
At CURA, we’re committed to supporting this systemic change—because every expectant mother should feel supported and safe when bringing new life to the world. In addition to our day-to-day work with clients, we have another project in the works to help advocate for better maternal health care policies in Congress. Stay tuned for more information and let us know if you’re interested in getting involved!
Stephanie Wight
Vice President, Media Relations
CURA Strategies