Pregnancy and childbirth bring on a range of emotions -- from excitement, to exhaustion, to the stress of physical pain.
Few, however, expect these experiences to result in human tragedy -- especially not in the death of a new or soon-to-be mother.
This hour: the realities of maternal health and mortality. We check in with a team of doctors and reporters, and we also hear from you.
Have you lost a loved one due to complications pre- or postpartum? We take your calls, tweets, and emails.
Plus: therapy for your... pelvic floor? We find out how this little-known specialty is helping women -- and men -- improve quality of life.
GUESTS:
- Nina Martin - Covers gender and sexuality for ProPublica; her latest collaboration with NPR, “Lost Mothers," investigates why the U.S. has the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world
- Dr. Katherine Campbell - Assistant Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut
- Emily McLaughlin - Postpartum hemorrhagic stroke survivor
- Dr. Jennifer Passoni, DPT - Specializes in pelvic floor therapy at Griffin Hospital's Center for Pelvic Health in Derby, Connecticut
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Chion Wolf contributed to this show.