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“Tragic,” “heartbreaking,” and “totally preventable,” is how experts describe the death of 32-year-old American sprinter Tori Bowie in early May. But few are surprised that it happened, given the abysmal state of maternal healthcare in the U.S.

Mirvie, a pioneer in predicting unexpected pregnancy complications, today announced a $4.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the company’s efforts to predict unexpected pregnancy complications before they happen by revealing the underlying biology of each pregnancy for women on a global scale.

"We need more support from men and non-birthing parents alike — from scientists in the lab, researchers in the field, policymakers in all levels of government, and founders and investors with a passion for improving health — to achieve the universal mission of creating a world where every pregnancy is as safe and healthy as possible."

"Tori's death exemplifies so many aspects of the challenges we face today in maternal health in the U.S.," says Dr. Alison Cowan, an OB-GYN and head of medical affairs at the health technology company Mirvie.

A new report details a comprehensive strategy to prevent preeclampsia, which affects about 250,000 pregnant women a year in the United States and 10 million worldwide.

Preventing preeclampsia — which affects about 5-7% of pregnant people worldwide every year — has benefits that stretch beyond pregnancy. Even if a pregnancy ends safely in a healthy birth, people with preeclampsia have more than twice the chance of developing cardiovascular disease later in life than those without it.

It’s up to policymakers to end the Black maternal health crisis. But in the meantime, with the right tools, Black moms can feel more secure approaching the medical system.

Pregnancy can be a roller coaster of screenings, tests, and health check-ups to ensure you and the baby are happy and healthy. One of these routine prenatal checks is the pregnancy glucose test, which screens for gestational diabetes. It's a relatively common condition that affects up to 10 percent of pregnancies in the United States every year, according to the CDC. But issues can arise with the baby's development if it goes undiagnosed.

The maternal death rate significantly increased in 2021, with rates among Black people more than double that of their white counterparts, according to data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.