Black mothers in America are dying at three and a half times the rate of white mothers — and more than 80% of these deaths are preventable.

In this powerful episode of Prescribing a Healthier Future, Dr. Akilah Weber Pearson sits down with health policy expert Courtney Christian to unpack the Black maternal health crisis and the leading role heart disease plays in pregnancy-related deaths.

Together, they explore:

• Why cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women
  
  
• How systemic racism, bias, and lack of postpartum care are costing lives
  
  
• Why income, education, and fame don’t protect Black mothers
  
  
• The role of doulas, midwives, and community advocacy
  
  
• How health insurance rollbacks and access gaps worsen outcomes
  
  
• Why self-advocacy can literally save lives
  
  

This conversation is about prevention, policy, and power — and why listening to Black women is essential to fixing maternal healthcare in America.

 If you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or love someone who is, this episode could save a life.

Subscribe, like, and share to help amplify this critical conversation.

Here are some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Why Black Mothers Are Dying at Alarming Rates

00:33 – Heart Disease: The Leading Cause of Maternal Death

01:47 – 80% of These Deaths Are Preventable

03:21 – Meet Courtney Christian: Policy Meets Personal

05:40 – Caring for Sick Parents While Writing the ACA

07:28 – Why Black Women’s Health Is Often Ignored

10:01 – Why Pregnancy Is More Dangerous Than We Realize

12:41 – Beyoncé, Serena, and the Myth of Protection

13:22 – Courtney’s High-Risk Pregnancy Story

15:17 – Cardiovascular Disease Before, During, and After Pregnancy

17:29 – The Shortage of Black OB-GYNs

19:22 – Why Insurance Doesn’t Equal Access to Care

21:36 – The Role of Doulas and Midwives

24:10 – Policies That Are Improving Maternal Outcomes

26:17 – How Insurance Rollbacks Hurt Black Women

29:31 – Why Health Literacy Matters

31:37 – How Communities Can Advocate for Change

40:15 – A Shocking Medical Bias Story

43:25 – Trusting Your Body and Getting Second Opinions

46:08 – Final Message: How to Protect Yourself and Others

#BlackMaternalHealth #MaternalMortality #BlackWomenHealth #PregnancyHealth #MaternalCare #HealthEquity #HeartDiseaseAwareness #OBGYN #PostpartumCare #BlackMoms #HealthcareCrisis #HealthPolicy #Doulas #Midwives #WomensHealth #PrescribingAHealthierFuture