Sit in a circle. Save your baby’s life.

Podcast Episode Summary

The main topic of this podcast episode is the high infant mortality rate in the United States and a potential solution to this problem. The episode explores the work of Dr. Amy Crockett, a doctor in South Carolina who has developed a program called Centering Pregnancy, which aims to reduce preterm births by providing social support to pregnant women.

Key Points:

• The United States has a high infant mortality rate, with babies born in the US being 76% more likely to die than babies born in other rich countries.
• Premature birth is a leading cause of infant death, and the US has a high rate of premature births, similar to sub-Saharan Africa.
• Dr. Amy Crockett developed Centering Pregnancy, a program that provides social support to pregnant women through group visits, which have been shown to reduce preterm births.
• The program involves group visits, where pregnant women discuss their concerns and feelings, and receive support from each other and from healthcare providers.
• The program has been shown to be effective in reducing preterm births, and has been adopted by Medicaid in South Carolina.
• However, the program is not without its challenges, and some women may lose their Medicaid coverage after giving birth.
• The episode also explores the issue of Medicaid expansion, which has been shown to be effective in reducing infant mortality rates.