1. MATERNAL
HEALTH IS A
GLOBAL ISSUE
THAT IMPACTS
ALL OF US
800
women will not survive pregnancy or
childbirth, and thousands more will
suffer from long-term disabilities.
Every day,

2. MOTHERS ARE ALSO AT RISK HERE AT HOME
THE U.S. HAS
HIGHER RATES OF
MATERNAL DEATHS
THAN 45 OTHER
COUNTRIES.
EVERY 9 MINUTES, A WOMAN
SUFFERS A LIFE-THREATENING
COMPLICATION
during pregnancy or childbirth.
IN THE UNITED STATES, 84
MILLION PEOPLE
live in an area where there is a shortage of
healthcare providers.

3. MATERNAL MORTALITY IS RISING IN THE U.S. AS IT DECLINES ELSEWHERE
25
20
15
10
5
0
1990 2000 2015
US (26.4)
UK (9.2)
Portugal (9)
Germany (9)
France (7.8)
Canada (7.3)
Netherlands (6.7)
Spain (5.6)
Australia (5.5)
Ireland (4.7)
Sweden (4.4)
Italy (4.2)
Denmark (4.2)
Finland (3.8)
THE U.S. IS THE ONLY
INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRY
WITH A CONSISTENTLY
RISING MATERNAL
MORTALITY RATE.

4. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
Provider Shortages
Nearly half of all
counties in the U.S. do
not have a single
obstetrician providing
maternity care.
Chronic Conditions
High blood pressure,
diabetes, and obesity
create added risks
during pregnancy,
especially for
uninsured women.
Over-Medicalization
Too often women
have procedures
that they do not
want or need.
Lack Of Insurance
There are 11
million uninsured
women ages 19-64
in the U.S.
Racial + Socioeconomic
Disparities
On average Black
women are 4x as likely
to die from pregnancy
related complications
than white women.

5. THE NUMBER OF
WOMEN WHO LOSE
THEIR LIVES GIVING
BIRTH IN AMERICA HAS
NEARLY DOUBLED OVER
THE LAST 25 YEARS.
GIVING BIRTH IN AMERICA

6. THE U.S. IS
FACING A
MATERNAL
HEALTH CRISIS
50%
of all maternal deaths in the
U.S. can be prevented. It's time
we do something about it.
More than

7. A MOTHER'S
STORY
Having endured a childbirth
complication herself, Christy
was compelled to direct and
produce the documentary,
"No Woman, No Cry" about
maternal health challenges
that impact the lives of
millions of girls and women
around the world.
Every Mother Counts was
launched in 2010 to heighten
awareness about our global
maternal health crisis.

8. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Options
Because all medical procedures come with
risks as well as benefits, procedures should
not be used for the convenience of
maternity care providers or facilities and
without the mother’s consent. For
example, if a mother does not want to be
induced, she should not be induced.
Access
Women with consistent access to a
health care provider throughout their
lifetime are more likely to manage or
address risks or complications early
and maximize the chances of a
healthy pregnancy and birth.
Policy
Many states have expanded the
number of people eligible for
Medicaid, resulting in 11 million
more people being insured.

9. THE JJ WAY: GETTING WOMEN THE OPTIONS
AND COMFORT THEY NEED
JENNIE FOUNDED
COMMONSENSE
CHILDBIRTH IN 1998 TO
INSPIRE CHANGE IN
MATERNAL CHILD
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS
WORLDWIDEMidwifery care results in lower rates of interventions like induction of
labor, epidural use, continuous fetal heart monitoring, and leads to higher
rates of normal vaginal delivery.
Type of Provider
THE BIRTH PLACE GIVES PREGNANT WOMEN CHOICES ON:
Setting
Fathers, family members, and friends are brought in as part of the mother’s
team and engaged in helping her achieve a healthy, full-term pregnancy.
Site
Women can choose where they want to deliver their baby.

10. LOOKING AHEAD IN LOUSIANA
During her short tenure as Secretary of Health for the state of Louisiana,
Dr. Rebekah Gee has seen to it that 400,000 previously uninsured citizens
now receive primary and preventative health benefits.
LOUISIANA HAS THE
WORST BIRTH
OUTCOMES IN THE
NATION, BUT
THEY'RE LOOKING
TO CHANGE THAT
“You can’t truly influence the course of a mother’s
life if you only wait until pregnancy. Women need
ongoing care. By addressing chronic conditions,
mental health and other issues, women can have
healthy pregnancies.”

11. Every Mother Counts