The Black Maternal Health Crisis

Guest: Dr. Isabel Morgan, Senior Advisor of Maternal Health at the Black Women’s Health Imperative

Episode Summary:

In this powerful and necessary conversation, Dr. Isabel Morgan shares hard truths and hopeful pathways forward in the fight for Black maternal health. As an epidemiologist and anthropologist, she brings both data and deep cultural insight to the conversation—breaking down how racism, medical models, and policy choices converge to create a maternal health crisis in the United States.

Together, we discuss:

Why the U.S. has the worst maternal mortality rates of any high-income country

The racial disparities in cesarean section rates and postpartum outcomes

The midwifery model vs. obstetric care—and why it matters

How implicit bias and structural racism shape healthcare experiences

Why storytelling, data, and advocacy are all critical tools for justice

The importance of the “fourth trimester” and postpartum care

What legislative changes—like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus—can actually save lives

This episode is a call to action—and a reminder that we can fix this.