In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Tracy MacNeal, CEO of Maternal Medical, to discuss a long-overlooked crisis in women's health: birth injuries. Tracy reveals how 10-15% of women who deliver vaginally experience severe pelvic floor trauma—injuries that often go undiagnosed and untreated for years. She shares how her company is developing groundbreaking technology to prevent these injuries during childbirth and why this space has been so dramatically underinvested. This conversation exposes the silence around maternal health and the urgent need for innovation in the delivery room.

Four Key Takeaways:

1. [11:28] The Hidden Epidemic of Birth Injuries - 10-15% of women who deliver vaginally suffer pelvic floor muscles torn off the bone—an injury only visible through ultrasound or MRI. This leads to pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, and chronic pain, yet most women leave the hospital without knowing they've been injured.
2. [5:22] Innovation Has Been Stalled for 80 Years - The epidural, introduced in the 1940s, was the last major innovation in labor and delivery. Unlike other medical fields that see constant advancement, maternal health has been dramatically underinvested, creating an anemic ecosystem for research and development.
3. [20:12] Smart Technology That Listens to the Body - Maternal Medical's device gently pre-stretches the birth canal by listening to the mother's tissue and only expanding one millimeter at a time when the body relaxes. In clinical trials of over 200 patients, the device group had zero injuries compared to 11% in the control group.
4. [30:58] The Power of Speaking Up - Women's silence about their symptoms has perpetuated the problem. When women speak up about birth injuries, it signals to investors that patients care and pushes physicians to prioritize these issues. Advocacy drives innovation and funding in healthcare. 

Quote of the Show (28:27):
"Unless she's a fighter pilot, having a baby is the most dangerous thing most women will ever do."- Tracy MacNeal 

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Ways to connect with Tracy MacNeal:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymacneal/
Company Website: https://maternamed.com

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