Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Each day in the US, more than 10,000 women and birthing people give birth.1 While most parents and infants remain healthy through this experience, each day about 136 people will have some severe complication, such as cardiac arrest, acute renal failure, sepsis, the need for a blood transfusion, or respiratory distress syndrome,2 and three people will die.3 More birthing people die because of pregnancy and childbirth in the US than in other comparable countries.4 Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic/Latina women have the highest rates of childbirth and pregnancy complications5 and are more likely to die compared with white women.3,6 These disparities are rooted at the intersection of racism, sexism, poverty, and other systems of oppression that lead to fewer opportunities, less access to resources and protections, increased stress, and poorer quality care. At one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, women and birthing people face inequities that perpetuate illness and disease. This is unacceptable"-- Provided by publisher.