“Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America”: Author Conversation

Eighty percent of maternal deaths in the United States are considered preventable. So why do they keep happening?

On this episode of “Conversations on Health Care,” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter are joined by award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Irin Carmon for a thoughtful conversation about pregnancy, care, and what gets lost when she says systems stop listening.

Carmon’s new book, “Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America,” draws on 15 years of reporting and the stories of five women navigating very different parts of the American maternal health system. Rather than a political argument, the discussion focuses on lived experience, reporting and what compassion and accountability can look like in maternal health care.

“Pregnancy can be a gift. But nothing can truly be considered a gift when it comes wrapped in coercion or paternalistic silence,” Carmon wrote.

Through these stories, Carmon explores why preventable tragedies still occur, even in places with advanced health care, and what she has learned by listening closely to patients, families and clinicians.

“We know what makes a difference. Listening when someone says something doesn’t feel right is as sophisticated as you need to get.”

The episode touches on maternal mortality, postpartum care, midwifery models and why improving outcomes starts with recognizing the humanity of the person who is pregnant.

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