Black women in the United States are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and the situation in Illinois is even worse than the national average.

The U.S. is also the only developed nation in the world where the overall maternal mortality rate is on the rise.

Non-profit civic journalism lab City Bureau has been reporting extensively maternal health in the Chicago area in recent months with the added goal of connecting women with needed resources.

Morning Shift talks with City Bureau as well as with a midwife and doula who cater to the African American community about bringing racial equity to maternal health in Chicago.

We also take comments and questions from listeners.

GUESTS: Janaya Greene, Civic Reporting Fellow at City Bureau

Lakieta Edwards, certified nurse midwife on Chicago’s South Side

Tayo Mbande, doula, co-founder of Chicago Birthworks Collective

LEARN MORE: What’s The State Of Maternal Care On Chicago’s West Side (City Bureau 4/23/19)

The Cord (City Bureau)