MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for Black infant mortality rates.

Last year, the state ranked sixth.

Doulas, health care workers, community leaders and members gathered on Tuesday for the eighth annual Saving Our Babies press conference.

Initiative partners gave a comprehensive overview of their efforts since 2019 as well as the implementation of the Connect RX Wisconsin.

Connect RX is a care coordination program that provides expecting mothers and families with both clinical and community resources.

Jasmine Simpson experienced the benefit of Connect RX firsthand when she was connected with a doula throughout her birthing and eventual grief journey, following the loss of her son.

“She was my birth doula, my postpartum doula, my grief doula,” Simpson said. “She showed up on days I could not get out of bed, on days I didn’t have the words, on days I felt like life wasn’t worth living. She showed up and reminded me why I was still here.”

The founder and CEO of the foundation for Black Women’s Wellness also shared that in Wisconsin, Black women are two to three times more likely to die as a result from childbirth and they are 4.4x more likely to lose their baby before its first birthday.

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