pregnancy

A Charlotte nonprofit has changed the name of its maternal health conference out of fear of losing federal funding. What was the Black Maternal Health Conference no longer includes the word “Black.”

About 40 women recently came together in Charlotte to make art aimed at raising awareness around the maternal health challenges Black women face. Some of their pieces are now part of an art exhibit in one of the city’s Corridors of Opportunity.

With the abrupt shutdown of USAID funding, many clinics, including those serving women in remote areas, have shuttered. Midwives are reporting that mothers and babies are dying as a result.

President Trump campaigned on lowering the cost of IVF, after a controversial ruling made the treatment stop in Alabama for a short time.

In parts of the U.S., more than half of pregnant women facing severe addiction are also exposed toxic to the toxic animal tranquilizer xylazine, a threat to them, their fetuses and newborns.

Health insurers would be required to cover all recommended over-the-counter contraception products, such as birth control and condoms, without a prescription and at no cost, for those with insurance.

More pregnant women are being diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure, which risks the life of the parent and child. Montana is one of the states improving screening and treatment.

Senate Republicans blocked a bill to ensure federal protections for access to in vitro fertilization treatments, calling it a "show" vote by Democrats. Republican leaders and Former President Trump, the GOP nominee for president, say they back IVF but not the legislation proposed by Democrats.

Guilford County’s rate stood at 7.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, the most recent year for which data are available. That’s higher than the state’s rate of 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births and the national rate of 5.4. It’s also higher than the rates in other large N.C. counties, according to Every Baby Guilford.

Nonprofits, health agencies and community members gathered in Charlotte last week to highlight factors that contribute to grim disparity, brainstorm solutions to combat poor outcomes.