How Technology Bridges Gaps in Maternal Healthcare

More than 3.6 million babies are born each year in the U.S.—about 10,000 births per day—yet many women are unable to access adequate maternity care and more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable. Even though the U.S. spends twice as much as other high-income countries on maternal health, we are in a maternity care crisis. Compared to peer nations, the U.S. has high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, with roughly 50,000 near deaths a year (as was my own experience in 2019), as well as high rates of C-sections, preterm births, NICU stays and poor maternal mental health. In the face of massive OB-GYN shortages and 217 Labor & Delivery unit closures since 2011, 36% of all U.S. counties are designated maternity care deserts with the highest prevalence in rural areas across Midwestern and Southern states.