Woman’s Day USA – September 2019

It’s hard to hear,

but important: The

chance of dying during

or after pregnancy

is shockingly high

in the U.S. Find out

why, and how moms-

to-be can protect

themselves.

BY RACHEL MORRIS

W

hen 37-year-

old Stacy-Ann

Wa l ke r ’s ba b y

was born

weighing a dangerously tiny

2 lbs, 12 oz, the Hartford, CT,

mom was ready to fight for

her daughter’s life. Little did she

know that two nights later, she’d

also be fighting for her own.

Stacy-Ann’s pregnancy had

been fairly routine until her third

trimester, when she started

noticing she felt a bit off: She was

short of breath and unusually

fatigued, with a rapid heartbeat

and swollen legs and ankles.

She shared her concerns with

her midwife, who dismissed the

symptoms as “normal pregnancy

complaints.” After all, what

expectant woman isn’t a bit more

exhausted at that point?

Work i n g t o

SAVE

MOMS

GE

TT

Y^

IM

AG

ES

.