Black women are more likely to experience pregnancy trauma and have their pain ignored

NPR | By Kristin Wright,

Ayesha Rascoe

Published September 13, 2026 at 8:04 AM EDT

Black mothers in the U.S. are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Actress Tatyana Ali became an advocate after her own awful experience giving birth.

Kristin Wright

Kristin Wright is an editor of NPR’s Morning Edition Newscasts and a substitute Newscast anchor.

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe is the host of Weekend Edition Sunday and the Saturday episodes of Up First.

See stories by Ayesha Rascoe

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