Every preventable maternal death is a reminder that our democracy means nothing if it cannot protect its citizens.

Being aware of the vast possibilities of birth and the options available before labor occurs is not an option; it’s a necessity.

While far-reaching and complex, maternal mortality is not an unsolvable problem; it’s just neglected.

Legislators in my home state of Connecticut are trying to address this problem.

On March 9, the Mississippi House of Representatives killed a bill that would have allowed mothers to keep Medicaid coverage for a year after giving birth.