In the fight to eliminate racial disparities in maternal and infant health, true change demands both grassroots community holding and institutional accountability.

In this powerful episode of the Sisters in Loss Podcast, host Erica M. Freeman sits down with Stacey D. Stewart, former President and CEO of the March of Dimes—the premier national non-profit leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies. During her historic tenure as the first woman and first African American to lead March of Dimes in its 80+ year history, Stacey spearheaded vital initiatives to shine a national spotlight on the Black maternal mortality crisis, systemic healthcare racism, and the staggering disparities in premature birth.

In this candid and insightful conversation, Stacey breaks down why Black women in America are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and why maternal-infant health outcomes are tied to systemic inequality rather than personal failure. We discuss how institutional healthcare must shift from blaming mothers to overhauling policy, expanding equitable postpartum care, and investing in culturally responsive community programs.

Whether you are a mother navigating the aftermath of premature delivery or infant loss, a birth worker fighting on the frontlines, or an advocate pushing for systemic reform, this episode offers an invaluable masterclass in advocacy, resilience, and systemic change.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • The Historic Leadership at March of Dimes: Stacey's journey leading the organization and transforming its institutional priorities to address the racial disparity gap head-on.

  • The Reality of Preterm Birth & Black Maternal Mortality: What the national data actually reveals about premature birth rates among Black mothers and the systemic roots of reproductive injustice.

  • Beyond Wealth and Education: Why maternal complications affect Black women across all socio-economic backgrounds—and why systemic racism, not genetics or income, is the root cause.

  • Policy Reform & Legislative Action: The critical role of extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year and passing key maternal health policies (such as the Maternal MOMNIBUS Act).

  • Community-Led Solutions: How hospital systems, doulas, grassroots leaders, and national non-profits can build authentic bridges to protect Black mothers and birthing families.

  • Words of Encouragement for Bereaved & NICU Families: A heartfelt message from Stacey to mothers carrying the weight of loss or premature birth.

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