Rhode Island PBS will premiere its new, compelling series, “The Risk of Giving Birth,” on Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. The locally focused program examines the maternal health crisis in the United States and Rhode Island’s ongoing efforts to address this crisis within its community.
The United States currently faces a pregnancy-related death rate 10 times higher than some of its peer countries. Between 2020 and 2021, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recorded a 43% increase in the mortality rate for individuals giving birth, rising from 23 deaths per 100,000 births to 33 deaths.
For women of color, the statistics are particularly alarming. Maternal mortality is two to three times higher for Black women. Among Latinas, the maternal mortality rate has surged by 54% from 2020 to 2021, marking the highest increase among any demographic group.
In three half-hour episodes, “The Risk of Giving Birth” tackles critical issues such as maternal mortality, morbidity, mental health, structural racism, and health literacy. To thoroughly examine this multifaceted crisis, series director and producer Stacy Waters grounds the series in personal stories and expert interviews.
“I’m grateful to the families, healthcare professionals, and community members in Rhode Island who helped us shine a light on the problem by sharing their very personal stories,” Waters said. “Our hope is that the program will spur action to protect lives in Rhode Island and beyond.”
One of the poignant, personal stories featured is that of Tyler Sutton, a father of three, who shares his wife Ariana’s story. Ariana, who battled postpartum depression, tragically took her own life nine days after their twins were born. In “The Risk of Giving Birth,” Sutton’s story emphasizes the urgent need for awareness surrounding perinatal mental health and leads the first episode into a more in-depth discussion.
Continuing the theme of braving vulnerability to bring awareness, mothers within the community share their stories as well, openly discussing the traumatic birthing experiences they each endured. The firsthand accounts serve as focal points to “The Risk of Giving Birth’s” examination of maternal morbidities and the research on the impact of structural racism within the medical field.
Alongside the personal narratives, the series features insights from medical professionals affiliated with Women and Infants Hospital, Planned Parenthood SNE, Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Urban Perinatal Education Center, and Jenks Park Pediatrics.
Community organizations like SISTA Fire and doula networks, including Doulas of Rhode Island, Doulas Conectadas, and RI Birthworker Co-op, share their perspectives and efforts to enhance care in their communities.
Prominent figures in the community, such as Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera; Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, host of Nuestra Salud; and former Rhode Island representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, sponsor of the Doula Reimbursement Act; underscore the gravity of the crisis.
Following the launch of “The Risk of Giving Birth,” Rhode Island PBS is determined to extend its community outreach, with plans to provide resources and hold events.
“We’re dedicated to being Rhode Island’s most accessible learning resource, and this series really exemplifies our mission,” said Jan Boyd, Chief Content Officer at Rhode Island PBS. “By delivering the program on-air and online, we continue our commitment to creating deeply reported, multi-platform journalism and resources for our community.”
The entirety of “The Risk of Giving Birth” will be available on watch.ripbs.org and YouTube on Jan. 12. Episode 1 will premiere on air on Jan. 12 at 8 p.m., followed by Episode 2 on Jan. 19 and Episode 3 on Jan. 26. Resources related to the series will be available at ripbs.org and shared via social media.
Descriptions for each of the three episodes are provided below:
Episode 1: “A Maternal Health Crisis”
The number of maternal deaths in the United States far exceeds that of other high-income countries and continues to grow each year. We examine some of the conditions contributing to the problem and what is being done in Rhode Island to address it.
Episode 2: “Black Maternal Health”
Long-held beliefs as to why Black women suffer higher rates of death and complications in pregnancy and childbirth are upended as we examine the racial disparities in care and the research showing the impacts of structural racism.
Episode 3: “Latina Maternal Health”
As the rates of complications and pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. continue to climb, Latinas have seen a particularly dramatic spike in recent years. We look at the maternal health concerns among the growing population of Latino families in Rhode Island.
