MATERNAL HEALTH
IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Policy Focus: Protecting Moms Before and After Birth

Medicaid covers over 40% of births in the U.S.—but now it’s at risk. With major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid being proposed, we must fight to protect care for moms.

Thanks to recent wins, most states now let moms keep Medicaid for 12 months after giving birth. That’s crucial—because nearly 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths happen during that time, especially for Black women.

Still, 1 in 10 women of childbearing age have no insurance at all. Expanding Medicaid means more moms can get care early, stay healthy, and avoid medical bills they can’t afford.

We’re standing up to keep our moms covered!

Policy Focus: Expand Access to Midwives and Doulas

Black women want care from people who understand them, and the results are better when they do. Doulas and midwives help lower risks during birth, but many can’t get this care because insurance doesn’t cover it.

Only 18 states and Washington, DC offer doula support through Medicaid. Even fewer require private insurance to cover it.

Black birth workers also face low pay, burnout, and barriers to training.

We are working to make midwife and doula care easier to access, better supported, and fairly paid—so Black moms can get the care they want and need.

Policy Focus: Fund Community-Led Care for Black Moms

Heart disease and high blood pressure are the top causes of death for Black mothers. Most of these deaths are preventable.

Black women are more likely to face conditions like preeclampsia, eclampsia, and diabetes during pregnancy. Chronic stress from racism and unequal care only makes it worse.

We are calling for more investment in community-based organizations that support Black moms, provide consistent care, and focus on the full picture of health—not just what happens at the hospital.

Policy Focus: Decriminalizing Abortion and Other Forms of Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss, including abortion and stillbirth, should never be treated as a crime. But as reproductive rights continue to be restricted, more women—especially Black women—face legal risks and barriers to care.

Pregnant people over age 35 are more likely to experience complications, including pregnancy loss and death. Stillbirth rates are nearly 30% higher for women 35 and older compared to younger women, and they are twice as high for non-Hispanic Black women compared to white women.

Nationally, Black women are nearly four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. These outcomes are worsened by laws that criminalize pregnancy loss instead of investing in life-saving care.

We are working to end the criminalization of pregnancy loss and protect access to reproductive health care for all.