Personal stories of pregnancy-related complications by Indigenous women are the centerpiece of a new informational campaign by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC wants to raise awareness about the high rate of pre- and post-natal complications among Native women. The effort comes just as the March of Dimes launched its own initiative to improve poor maternal care outcomes. It includes a map of “maternity care deserts”, many of which are in areas with high Native populations. We’ll talk about these and other efforts to improve care for pregnant Native women.

GUESTS

Dr. Jennifer Richards (Diné, Oglala Lakota, and Taos Pueblo), assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health

Crystal Austin (Diné), director of external affairs for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health

Dr. Brian Thompson (citizen of the Oneida Nation), physician, obstetrician gynecologist, and member of the national board of March of Dimes

Vanessa Sanchez (member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes), mother from the HEAR HER video campaign

Dr. Tina Pattara-Lau, maternal child health consultant at Indian Health Service headquarters

Break 1 Music: Women’s Honoring Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)

Break 2 Music: Another Night to Cry (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)