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IF I LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU,

IT COULD BE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A FASHION MODEL

FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME IS THAT I'M ALSO A MOM.

WHEN THE TIME CAME,

I WAS READY AND EAGER FOR A LIFE-TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE.

THE LABOR ITSELF WAS INTENSE

BUT PRETTY MUCH WENT THE WAY I IMAGINED IT WOULD GO.

THEN, IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN INSTANT,

I WENT FROM FEELING INVINCIBLE TO POWERLESS.

THE MIDWIFE CALLED FOR BACKUP.

THEY TOOK MY BABY AWAY, AND I BEGAN TO HEMORRHAGE.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FEAR AND PANIC OF THAT MOMENT.

FORTUNATELY, I GOT THROUGH IT.

BUT TOO MANY WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD DON'T.

I'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN DIE

IN PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH EVERY YEAR,

AND 90% OF THOSE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE.

OVER THE YEARS, AS I'VE WATCHED MY DAUGHTER GROW,

I'VE CONTINUED TO BE HAUNTED BY THESE SHOCKING FACTS

AND COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

- - Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

JANET IS OVER NINE MONTHS PREGNANT WITH HER THIRD CHILD.

SHE'S MADE HER WAY TO THE NEAREST CLINIC,

HOPING TO DELIVER THERE.

JANET WAS AT THE CLINIC FOR A FULL DAY AND NIGHT.

THERE ARE ONLY FOUR BEDS.

THE NURSES NEEDED TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER PATIENTS ARRIVING.

SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO HOME.

AND IT'S A FIVE-MILE WALK.

AFTER A LONG DAY WITHOUT ANY FOOD TO EAT,

JANET'S LABOR RAMPS UP.

AND NOW, THE PAIN IS EVEN MORE INTENSE.

IN DESPERATION, SHE SETS OFF FOR THE CLINIC AGAIN.

THE CLINIC HAS ONE MIDWIFE, ONE NURSE,

AND ONLY OCCASIONALLY IS A DOCTOR AVAILABLE.

WHEN I WAS A PHYSICIAN,

HUMAN-RESOURCE SHORTAGE WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

I WORKED IN A FACILITY

WHERE I WAS THE ONLY OBSTETRICIAN

FOR 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE RESOURCES TO DO THINGS PROPERLY

IN TERMS OF LACK OF DRUGS, YOU KNOW,

LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES,

AND ALSO THAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED,

IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE OVERWORKED.

AND WHEN YOU TRY TO TELL THEM TO WORK MORE,

I MEAN, YOU ARE STRETCHING THEM TOO FAR.

HMM?

MNH-MNH.

MNH-MNH.

MNH.

MNH-MNH.

HMM?

MNH-MNH. MNH-MNH.

JANET'S LABOR IS NOT PROGRESSING,

AND THE THREAT OF DEATH FOR BOTH BABY AND MOTHER IS PALPABLE.

WITH NO MONEY TO PAY FOR FOOD OR TRANSPORT,

THE NURSES ASK US TO HELP.

WE ARRANGE FOR A VAN TO TAKE JANET TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL --

AN HOUR AWAY.

THE VAN RIDE COSTS $30,

MORE THAN JANET'S FAMILY TAKES HOME IN A MONTH.

WHEN A WOMAN DIES,

THERE ARE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY.

IN A COUNTRY LIKE TANZANIA,

WOMEN ARE THE ONES WHO DO MOST OF THE WORK IN THE RURAL AREAS.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO FETCH THE WATER,

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DO THE FARMING,

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILIES

MORE THAN THE MEN.

AND IF THEY DIE, THEN IT'S A DISASTER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

THE STAFF DETERMINES

THAT JANET IS EXHAUSTED AND DEHYDRATED.

THEY QUICKLY WORK TO INDUCE HER.

THREE DAYS AND MANY MILES LATER,

SHE GIVES BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY BOY.

JUST AS JANET IS MAKING HER WAY HOME,

A FRIGHTENED 16-YEAR-OLD ARRIVES AT THE CLINIC IN LABOR.

BACK HOME IN NEW YORK, I CAN'T STOP THINKING

ABOUT THE ORDEAL I WITNESSED IN TANZANIA

AND CONNECTING IT TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

I REMEMBER THE TRAUMA

THAT FOLLOWED THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER.

WHILE I GOT THE CARE I NEEDED,

I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT THE SITUATION IS LIKE

FOR WOMEN HERE IN AMERICA

WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES I DO.

A FRIEND TELLS ME ABOUT A MIDWIFE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

WHOSE CLINIC OFTEN SERVES WOMEN WHO HAVE NO INSURANCE.

WE HAVE ACCESS FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE AND NOT FOR OTHERS,

SO WHERE WOMEN ARE

DISENFRANCHISED, UNINSURED, INDIGENT,

THERE IS NO ACCESS.

BEING UNINSURED AND BEING PREGNANT

IS QUITE A DISASTER RIGHT NOW.

HERE IT COMES.

A WOMAN WHO BECOMES PREGNANT WHO DID NOT PLAN HER PREGNANCY,

WHICH IS PRETTY WELL 50% OF US --

SHE FINDS THAT HER INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER PREGNANCY.

NOW SHE'S IN A PICKLE.

IF YOU CALLED YOUR REGULAR OBSTETRICIAN'S OFFICE AND SAY,

"HEY, I'M PREGNANT.

I WANT TO GET STARTED," YOU'RE GONNA HEAR,

"YOU NEED TO BRING AT LEAST $1,500, $2,000

TO PUT DOWN ON A DEPOSIT."

THE FEE COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000

FOR THE OBSTETRICIAN.

THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEE.

SO YOU'RE ALREADY GONNA BE SPENDING SOME SERIOUS MONEY,

AND THAT'S ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL

AND DULY HAVE YOUR BABY, HURRY UP AND HAVE IT,

GET OFF THE TABLE, AND LEAVE WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.

IF YOU HAD A C-SECTION, WE'RE TALKING

A WHOLE MAYBE $15,000, $20,000 BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE.

THIS IS AN UPSIDE-DOWN SYSTEM.

THERE'S A GREAT IRONY HERE.

WHILE WOMEN IN SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES

HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED,

IF THEY CAN REACH IT, IT MAY BE FREE.

HERE IN THE U.S.,

WHERE PROVIDERS AND SERVICES ARE ABUNDANT,

HEALTHCARE IS ANYTHING BUT FREE.

IN RURAL TANZANIA,

THE BARRIER TO EMERGENCY CARE WAS MEASURED IN MILES.

HERE IN DHAKA, WHERE THE HOSPITAL IS MUCH CLOSER,

THE BARRIERS ARE BENEATH THE SURFACE.

MONICA LIVES IN A SLUM IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

SHE'S PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND CHILD.

WOMEN WILL TELL YOU STORIES.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO WOMEN WHEN I SAID,

"WHY DON'T YOU GIVE BIRTH OUTSIDE THE HOME,

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY RISKS, AND WHAT ABOUT COMPLICATIONS?"

AND THE FIRST THING THIS WOMAN LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,

"APA, YOU KNOW WHAT WE PRAY?

WE PRAY, "MAY ALLAH NEVER

TAKE A WOMAN OUTSIDE HER HOME TO GIVE BIRTH.

WE WOULDN'T WISH IT ON A WOMAN, EVER."

SO, THE IDEA IS YOU GIVE BIRTH INSIDE THE HOME

BECAUSE IT'S A VERY WOMEN-CENTERED ACTIVITY,

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE FAMILY,

AND IT'S ACCEPTED -- CULTURALLY, SOCIALLY.

WITH HER HUSBAND AWAY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WORKING,

MONICA HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO DEAL WITH HER PREGNANCY ON HER OWN.

YASMIN, A COMMUNITY-HEALTH WORKER,

IS PART OF A NEW PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH

WITH A SKILLED ATTENDANT IN A HYGIENIC DELIVERY CENTER.

IT'S SOMETHING MONICA IS HESITANT TO DO.

SHE WOULD PREFER TO STAY HOME

AND CALL A TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANT,

EVEN THOUGH MOST HAVE NO TRAINING.

IF A WOMAN CANNOT GIVE BIRTH

OR IF SHE CAN'T FALL PREGNANT, THE FAULT IS ON THE WOMAN.

IN ONE VILLAGE, THERE'S 19 LOCAL TERMS

FOR A YOUNG GIRL WHO CAN'T GIVE BIRTH,

TERMS FOR INFERTILITY -- 19 LOCAL TERMS.

BUT FOR MEN, THERE ARE ONLY TWO TERMS,

BECAUSE THE EXPECTATION IS IT'S THE FAULT OF THE WOMAN.

IF YOU'RE A WOMAN WHO CAN'T HAVE A BABY,

THERE'S THIS WHOLE SENSE OF SHAME.

YOU DIDN'T FULFILL YOUR ROLE.

WITH SO MUCH RIDING ON THIS PREGNANCY,

MONICA DECIDES TO GET THE ULTRASOUND.

I MEAN, I THINK OUR DOCTORS ARE NOT SENSITIZED.

THEY HAVE POOR WOMEN COMING IN,

AND THEY'RE TOO SCARED TO BE VOCAL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS,

AND THEY'RE NOT ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS

IN THE WHOLE BIRTHING EXPERIENCE.

IT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM, THE POWER OF GIVING BIRTH.

MONICA'S ULTRASOUND REVEALS

THAT THE BABY COULD COME AT ANY TIME.

I WORRY, HOWEVER, THAT HER EXPERIENCE AT THE HOSPITAL

WILL UNDERMINE HER CONFIDENCE

IN DELIVERING WITH A SKILLED BIRTH ATTENDANT.

SURE ENOUGH, WHEN MONICA GOES INTO LABOR,

SHE HAS AN UNTRAINED BIRTH ATTENDANT COME TO HER HOME.

AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, MONICA BEGINS TO BLEED.

IN A PANIC, SHE TRIES TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

IT'S 2:00 A.M.,

AND IT'S HARD TO FIND A RIDE FOR A WOMAN IN HER CONDITION.

FINALLY, A RICKSHAW DRIVER AGREES TO TAKE HER FOR 30 TAKA.

I THINK THERE'S ASSUMPTIONS THAT THERE'S ACCESS.

"IF YOU PROVIDE A HEALTH FACILITY, PEOPLE WILL USE IT."

AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND THAT,

BEYOND THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.

THEY THINK, "WE PROVIDE A SERVICE.

"WHY AREN'T PEOPLE ACCESSING THESE SERVICES?

THEY NEED MORE EDUCATION, OR THEY NEED TO BE MORE INFORMED."

BUT I THINK WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY TALKING

ABOUT SOME OF THE REAL ISSUES --

THE REALITIES OF WOMEN'S LIVES OR POOR PEOPLE'S LIVES

AND THE CHOICES THEY MAKE

WHEN IT COMES TO PREGNANCY CARE OR BIRTHING CARE,

AND WHY THEY ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE

OR WHY THEY'RE NOT GOING OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

BUT SOMETIMES, I FEEL WE DON'T LISTEN

TO THE POPULATIONS THAT WE'RE SERVING.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WOMEN FACE

IN TERMS OF THE CHOICES OR THE LACK OF CHOICES THEY HAVE.

A FEW DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH, MONICA'S HUSBAND COMES

TO TAKE THE FAMILY BACK TO THEIR VILLAGE.

I WONDER WHAT SHE'LL SHARE OF HER TRAUMATIC BIRTH EXPERIENCE,

IF ANYTHING.

WILL HER SHAME OVER NOT HAVING GIVEN BIRTH AT HOME

OUTWEIGH HER RELIEF AT HAVING SURVIVED?

IN SOME WAYS, I CAN RELATE TO MONICA.

I ALSO WANTED TO HAVE A HOME BIRTH.

I, TOO, WAS FEARFUL OF HOSPITALS.

TO ME, THEY WERE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO TO DIE,

NOT TO GIVE BIRTH.

BUT MY HUSBAND WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH A HOME BIRTH,

SO WE COMPROMISED AND DELIVERED BOTH OUR CHILDREN

IN A BIRTHING CENTER WITHIN A HOSPITAL.

BUT WOMEN DON'T ALWAYS HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS.

THINK ABOUT THE SCENARIOS

WHERE WOMEN RUN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM

BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

WOMEN WILL COME IN

WITH THE BLOOD PRESSURE ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL.

THE WOMEN WALK AROUND OUTSIDE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WOMEN WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT ARE AT RISK.

WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD UNCONTROLLED DIABETES,

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR MEDICINE,

THEY'RE NOT GETTING INSULIN -- THEY COME IN TO US.

WE HAVE TO SEND THEM DIRECTLY FROM HERE TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE SEND THEM RIGHT TO THE TRIAGE.

THEY THOUGHT I HAD PLACENTA PREVIA AT FIRST,

SO THEY WAS LIKE, WITH YOU -- MY LIFE COULD BE IN DANGER,

SO IT WAS, LIKE, SCARY WITH ME, SO...YEAH.

DID YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR?

EMERGENCY ROOM. I ALWAYS GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS

ABOUT WOMEN GETTING THEIR CARE THROUGH THE E.R.

IN THEIR PREGNANCY IS, UNFORTUNATELY,

THERE'S QUITE OF BIT OF JUDGMENT THAT GOES WITH THAT CARE.

DOCTORS AND NURSES JUDGE FROM THE ANGLE OF,

"WOW, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR BABY,

OR YOU'D GET PRENATAL CARE."

AGAIN, THAT COMES BACK TO THAT PLACE

WHERE THERE'S A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON THEIR PART

ON HOW YOU GET PRENATAL CARE

AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET PRENATAL CARE.

MOST OF THE WOMEN THAT PRESENT IN OUR E.R.

ARE NOT WANTONLY TRYING TO AVOID GETTING PRENATAL CARE.

THEY HAVE JUST HAD IT

AND CAN'T GET THEIR FOOT IN ANYBODY'S DOOR.

THE PROBLEMS THAT JENNIE DEALS WITH IN HER CLINIC

ARE ABOUT ACCESS AND EQUALITY.

THE SOLUTIONS SEEM TO BE CLEAR-CUT.

BUT SOMETIMES WOMEN FACE PROBLEMS

THAT AREN'T SO STRAIGHTFORWARD.

ONE OF THOSE HAPPIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

WAS THE BIRTH OF EACH OF THE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW.

IT'S JUST THAT THE HORRIBLE TRAGEDY OF SUSAN'S DEATH

ALSO HAS MADE IT THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE.

SUSAN WAS A VERY COMPLEX WOMAN.

SO, SHE HAD THIS INTELLECT,

THIS DISCURSIVE APPROACH TOWARDS LIFE,

JUST TALKING, YOU KNOW, AND SO, I LOVED THAT.

SHE HAD ALWAYS SAID THAT SHE'D NEVER MET ANYBODY

WHO COULD ACTUALLY TALK MORE THAN SHE COULD,

AND SO, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE HIT IT OFF.

WE SPENT ALL OUR TIME TALKING.

SHE WAS JUST ALWAYS VERY PASSIONATE,

AND THAT WAS THE REAL APPEAL.

EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS DONE WITH PASSION AND INTENSITY.

SHE WAS VERY COMFORTABLE IN HER BODY

AS A PREGNANT WOMAN.

IT WASN'T A WALK IN THE PARK FOR HER AT ALL.

IT'S HARD ON THE BODY, AND SHE FELT

ALL OF THE STEREOTYPICAL EXPERIENCES

OF PREGNANCY.

BUT SHE ENJOYED IT, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS A VERY CONSCIOUS CHOICE

TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE MORE CHILDREN,

SO SHE'D LIKED THE PROCESS OF PREGNANCY.

SHE WASN'T AFRAID OF BIRTH, YOU KNOW.

SHE KNEW SHE WANTED NATURAL CHILDBIRTH

AND HAD DONE THAT FOR HER CHILDREN,

AND, YOU KNOW, KNEW, YES, LABOR IS DIFFICULT,

BUT IT'S A VERY, VERY SURVIVABLE EXPERIENCE, IF YOU WILL.

HE WAS ALREADY OVERDUE,

AND WE KNEW MEDICALLY THE SAFEST THING TO DO,

IF YOU'RE OUT TWO WEEKS, IS YOU SHOULD INDUCE.

AT THAT POINT, IT BECOMES RISKY.

SHE WENT INTO LABOR AROUND 2:00 A.M.,

AND THE CONTRACTIONS WERE COMING VERY STRONG,

AND IT JUST HAPPENED THAT SHE'S UP ON THE BED,

AND THEN WITHIN 15 OR SO MINUTES, CHARLES IS OUT.

I JUST SAW THE BLOOD FROM BETWEEN HER LEGS ON THE SHEETS.

AND ALL I COULD DO WAS GO AROUND BEHIND HER

AND SAY, "I'M HERE."

THEY TOLD ME AS EARLY AS 7:00 IN THE MORNING,

WHEN I WAS OUTSIDE THE I.C.U. IN A WAITING ROOM...

...AND ONE OF THE DOCTORS CAME IN,

AND I SAID, "WELL, WHAT'S THE DIAGNOSIS?

WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?"

AND THE DOCTOR SAID, "YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST."

I SAID, "WELL...

COULD SHE HAVE A COMA?"

SHE GOES, "YES."

"COULD SHE HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE?" "YES."

AND I SAID, "WELL, COULD SHE DIE?"

AND THEY SAID, "YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST."

SHE WAS NON-RESPONSIVE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY,

AS SHE BLED TO DEATH.

I'VE HAD GRIEF IN MY LIFE BEFORE.

THIS, THOUGH, WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

IT WAS DESPAIR.

IT WAS JUST...

BLACKNESS.

SUSAN DIED OF AN AMNIOTIC-FLUID EMBOLISM.

INVESTIGATING FURTHER,

I COULD FIND ONLY ONE DOCTOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS CONDITION,

AND HIS LIMITED FUNDING IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT.

WHETHER HERE OR ABROAD,

HOW CAN WE PREVENT WOMEN FROM DYING

WHEN NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH IS BEING DONE?

WHAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US

IS THAT ONE MAIN CAUSE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY

IS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE -- UNSAFE ABORTION.

IN GUATEMALA CITY, - I MEET AN OB/ - GYN.

SHE TREATS WOMEN WHO OTHERWISE DON'T HAVE ACCESS

TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

LINDA TRAVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY

TEACHING HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO DON'T HAVE HER FORMAL TRAINING.

Shhh..

LINDA'S BUSY SCHEDULE IS HARD ON HER FAMILY,

ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE'S EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT

WITH HER SECOND CHILD.

IN ADDITION TO FAMILY PLANNING AND GENERAL OBSTETRICS,

LINDA DOES POST-ABORTION CARE,

WHICH IS CONTROVERSIAL IN A COUNTRY

THAT HAS SUCH STRICT ANTI-ABORTION LAWS.

THE STIGMA IS SO GREAT,

WOMEN REFUSE TO ADMIT THEY'VE HAD AN ABORTION

EVEN WHEN THEY'RE ON THE VERGE OF DEATH.

UH-HUH.

MY CHILDREN DON'T LIKE THAT I TRAVEL SO MUCH,

BUT THEY'RE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND

WHY I'M SO COMPELLED TO DO IT.

I LIKE TO SHARE WITH THEM THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE I'VE MET.

I TELL THEM THAT THERE ARE

MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN THE WORLD

WHO DON'T HAVE THEIR MOTHERS.

THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES AND TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE.

I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THEY'LL RECOGNIZE

THEIR OWN CONNECTION TO THE WORLD

AND FEEL INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I'M CHRISTY TURLINGTON BURNS,

THE DIRECTOR OF "NO WOMAN, NO CRY,"

AND THE FOUNDER OF "EVERY MOTHER COUNTS."

I'M HERE WITH FILMMAKER ED BURNS,

WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MY HUSBAND.

AND WHO BETTER TO TALK TO

ABOUT MY PROCESS OF MAKING THIS FILM

AND ALL THAT I DISCOVERED

THAN YOU.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM A LOT, ALMOST AS MANY TIMES AS I HAVE.

IS THERE SOMETHING

THAT IN SEEING IT AGAIN TODAY STOOD OUT FOR YOU?

I THINK TWO THINGS.

ROBBIE, THE WIDOWER --

EVERY TIME I SEE THAT, IT'S OBVIOUSLY HEARTBREAKING,

AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT OUR OWN EXPERIENCE

AND HOW FORTUNATE WE WERE,

GIVEN THE COMPLICATIONS THAT YOU HAD IN DELIVERING GRACE.

I THINK ALSO JANET.

THERE'S A GREAT SHOT OF JANET

WHERE SHE'S JUST LEANING AGAINST THE BED IN THE CLINIC,

AND SHE'S A WOMAN ALONE.

IT'S SYMBOLIC OF THE PLIGHT OF THESE WOMEN.

THEY ARE ALONE IN A LOT OF THESE PLACES,

AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

EXACTLY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL ASK ME THE MOTIVATIONS FOR MY FILMS.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD WITH GRACE

WAS A BIG PART OF YOU DECIDING TO MAKE THIS FILM.

WELL, I THINK IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH GRACE,

WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY EVEN REALIZE IN THE MOMENT

HOW SERIOUS IT WAS,

AND THAT WAS IN PART BECAUSE

WE HAD SUCH AN AMAZING TEAM WORKING TOGETHER SO WELL,

THAT THEY DID ALL THAT THEY COULD

TO TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION

AND ALSO MAKE US FEEL THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.

BUT A FEW MONTHS AFTER WE HAD HER,

I LEARNED THAT POST-PARTUM HEMORRHAGE,

WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME,

THAT THAT'S THE LEADING CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATH

FOR WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND THEN WHEN I STARTED TO TRAVEL

A LITTLE BIT WITH C.A.R.E., YOU KNOW,

I WENT TO EL SALVADOR WITH THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME

WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH FINN,

AND I THINK BECAUSE I'D HAD THAT COMPLICATION

AND THEN BECAUSE WE WERE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

VISITING WITH OTHER MOMS WHO WERE PREGNANT

IN THE SAME STATE AS I WAS,

I THINK IT REALLY JUST DROVE HOME THAT, YOU KNOW,

WHAT IF WE'D BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW?

WHAT IF I HAD THAT COMPLICATION IN THESE SURROUNDINGS?

THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY. THERE WERE NO PAVED ROADS.

THERE WAS NO CLEAN WATER.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE POINT

WHERE I STARTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE GLOBAL STATISTICS,

THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WERE DYING EVERY YEAR

AND THAT 90% OF THOSE DEATHS WERE PREVENTABLE.

THAT SEEMED LIKE, "SURELY WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB,

"AND WHY ARE WE NOT DOING A BETTER JOB

IF SO MANY OF THOSE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE?"

SO, IT SORT OF STARTED THIS PROCESS, THIS DISCOVERY PROCESS

TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT WERE OTHER WOMEN EXPERIENCING?

ONE OF THE NEXT PLACES THAT I VISITED WAS PERU,

AND THAT'S WHERE I HAD THE IDEA TO MAKE THE FILM.

I WENT TO THIS REGION CALLED AYACUCHO

IN THE HIGHLANDS OF PERU,

AND THERE THEY SHOWED ME A SUCCESS STORY.

IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS IN THIS MOUNTAINOUS REGION

WHERE IT HAD THE HIGHEST RATES

OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN SOUTH AMERICA,

AND THEY REDUCED THE MATERNAL DEATHS IN HALF IN FIVE YEARS

BY REALLY SIMPLE THINGS

LIKE ALLOWING INDIGENOUS WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH,

SPEAKING WITH MIDWIVES AND DOCTORS AND NURSES

WHO SPOKE THE SAME LANGUAGE AS THEY DID,

YOU KNOW, BEING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE.

INDIGENOUS WOMEN LIKE TO GIVE BIRTH VERTICALLY,

NOT ON A TABLE LIKE PEOPLE DO IN HOSPITALS.

AND SO, THEY WERE JUST SMALL, LOW-COST SOLUTIONS

WHICH I SAW IN PRACTICE,

AND I SAW MIDWIVES, NURSES, DOCTORS WORKING TOGETHER

TO TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE SERVING,

AND THAT MADE A HUGE IMPACT.

HOW CAN I TAKE WHAT I'VE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED HERE

BACK TO MY FRIENDS?

AND THERE'S WHERE I THOUGHT, "A FILM.

A DOCUMENTARY FILM WILL BE THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT."

WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD THE BENEFIT

OF BEING IN THE EDITING ROOM

WHILE YOU HAD COME BACK WITH THE FOOTAGE,

AND THERE WERE SO MANY

HEARTBREAKING BUT ALSO INSPIRING STORIES,

SO I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT STORIES

THAT WERE SORT OF LEFT ON THE FLOOR,

AS WE SAY IN THE EDITING ROOM.

THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART, ACTUALLY,

BECAUSE WE MET SO MANY WOMEN.

WE WOULD BE IN EACH COUNTRY FOR A FEW WEEKS AT A TIME,

AND WE WOULD MEET SEVERAL MOMS,

MOST OF THEM IN THOSE FINAL WEEKS OF THEIR PREGNANCY.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW

WHAT OUTCOME ANY PREGNANCY WILL HAVE, LIKE MY OWN.

15% OF ANY PREGNANCY CAN RESULT IN A COMPLICATION,

AND THERE ISN'T ALWAYS A WAY

TO IDENTIFY WHAT THAT IS ALONG THE WAY.

IN TANZANIA, WE WERE FOLLOWING TWO STORIES VERY CLOSELY.

ONE OF THEM WE JUST TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT,

WHICH WAS LIGHTNESS, THE TEENAGE WOMAN --

WHO SHOWS UP AT THE END.

WHO SHOWS UP AT THE END.

HER STORY WAS JUST -- IT WAS HARD ON SO MANY LEVELS.

SHE WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD WHO HADN'T FINISHED HER PRIMARY EDUCATION

AND LEARNED THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

SHE WAS KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL.

HER BOYFRIEND, THE FATHER OF THE BABY, RAN AWAY.

HER OWN FATHER ABANDONED THE FAMILY.

HE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HER.

HE BLAMED THE MOTHER FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED,

AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS

WHERE GOING TO THIS PREGNANCY JUST WAS --

THE BURDEN OF THIS PREGNANCY WAS JUST SO PALPABLE.

HERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WASN'T EVEN SEEKING CARE.

SHE WASN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR THE CLINIC,

BUT HER MOM FLAGGED OUR CAR DOWN.

HER MOM REALLY SAID TO US, "I'M FEARFUL."

SHE HAD NO PLANS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

BECAUSE SHE HAD NO MEANS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO WE GAVE HER A LIFT, AND SHE DID NEED AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION,

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE STORIES

THAT, HAD WE NOT BEEN THERE, HAD WE NOT COME BACK --

I MEAN, REALLY, THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE

THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY.

AND AT THE VERY LEAST, HER CHILD WOULD HAVE NOT SURVIVED.

AND YOU JUST CAME BACK FROM TANZANIA.

HOW DID YOU FIND THINGS THERE? WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE?

SEE, WE GET REPORTS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS,

BUT I WANTED TO GO BACK AND SEE THEM.

I WANTED TO SEE THE CHILDREN.

I WANTED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE'S LIVES WHEN YOU SPEND TIME

SHARING THEIR STORIES, HEARING THEIR STORIES.

WE'VE BEEN INVITED INTO THEIR HOMES

AND ONE OF THE MOST SACRED AND PERSONAL, INTIMATE MOMENTS

AS ONE WILL HAVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

I JUST -- I THINK ABOUT THEM TOO OFTEN.

AND LAST MONTH, WE WENT BACK TO GUATEMALA

AND WERE ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH LINDA --

LINDA VALENCIA, THE OBSTETRICIAN THAT WORKED THERE.

WE PICKED IN COUNTRY IN PART BECAUSE OF HER, AS WELL.

SO I WENT BACK, I GOT TO MEET DIEGO, HER LITTLE BOY

AND SEE HER DAUGHTER, SOFI, GROWN UP A LITTLE BIT,

AND ALSO SEE HER IN ACTION.

SHE'S AN AMAZING INDIVIDUAL

BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS SHE A PHYSICIAN

WHO WORKS IN A CLINIC SETTING

BUT ALSO ON THE ROAD AND IN THESE SMALL HEALTH CAMPAIGNS,

BUT SHE ALSO LOBBIES,

AND SHE'S A REALLY ACTIVE PART OF GOVERNMENT AND POLICY CHANGE

AND ADVOCACY IN HER COUNTRY.

AND THEY'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

NEW LAWS PASSED IN GUATEMALA THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW --

THEY'VE GOTTEN THIS ISSUE JUST HIGHER ON THE AGENDA,

WHICH IS -- THAT'S A HUGE VICTORY.

BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTING THOSE POLICIES IS THE CHALLENGE

AND ONE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP PUSHING FOR.

HAVING SEEN ALL THIS AND GONE ALL OVER THE WORLD,

WHAT IS THE MISSING LINK?

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS NEEDED TO START TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

PREVENTION IS A HUGE PIECE OF THIS.

YOUNG GIRLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

WHO HAVE BEEN MALNOURISHED THEIR WHOLE DEVELOPING YEARS

AND THEN THEY HAVE A BABY PREMATURELY --

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY DELIVER THAT CHILD.

SO, OF COURSE, THE RISK

FOR THEIR CHILD AND FOR THEMSELVES ARE ENORMOUS.

I MEAN, FOR GIRLS AGES 15 THROUGH 19,

PREGNANCY IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE WORLD.

AND SO, PREVENTION,

STOPPING THAT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE,

DELAYING FIRST PREGNANCIES,

SPACING BIRTHS, IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.

AND YOU HEARD IN THIS FILM THAT OUR OBSTETRICIAN IN TANZANIA

SAYS THAT HE WAS THE ONLY DOCTOR FOR 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE

IN THE REGION THAT HE WAS FIRST TRAINING IN.

I MEAN, THAT'S UNFATHOMABLE TO MOST AMERICAN WOMEN.

SO, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP,

BUT THERE ARE INCREDIBLE THINGS

THAT WE CAN DO WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS,

WITH COMMUNITY-SKILLED BIRTH ATTENDANTS,

WITH MIDWIVES, WITH NURSES.

THOSE ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES,

AND THERE ARE MORE AND MORE EFFORTS

TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, REALLY BUILD THAT WORKFORCE.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE FILM SCREENED

AT THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL,

THESE TWO WOMEN CAME UP TO ME IN THE LOBBY,

AND THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE SITTING NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER.

ONE HAD HAD A BABY, ONE WAS PREGNANT.

AND DURING ONE OF THE SCENES, THEY BOTH GOT SO EMOTIONAL

THAT THEY JUST INSTINCTIVELY REACHED OUT

AND GRABBED ONE ANOTHER'S HANDS,

AND AFTERWARDS, THEY CAME, AND THEIR BIG QUESTION WAS,

"WELL, WE WERE SO MOVED BY THE FILM.

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THESE WOMEN OUT THERE?"

WELL, I'VE STARTED THE CAMPAIGN CALLED "EVERY MOTHER COUNTS,"

AND WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT HAS A LOT MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE PARTNERS ALL OVER THE WORLD

THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH IN RESEARCHING FOR THE FILM,

AND THEY'RE DOING PROGRAMMATIC STUFF ON THE GROUND

THAT, I THINK, PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN ON SOME LEVEL.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE

WITH ENGAGING JUST EVERYDAY FAMILIES AND MOMS

WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS REALLY KEEPING THIS ON THE AGENDA,

KEEPING THE WORLD PUSHING FOR THIS,

AND MAKING SURE

THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES AND WHEN WE CAN DO MORE

THAT WE'RE PRIMED TO DO SO.

I'M TRYING TO CREATE TOOLS, ADVOCACY TOOLS,

THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY

FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE AND DO THEIR PART.

THE EASIEST THING WE CAN DO IS SHARE THE STORIES,

TELL PEOPLE TO SEE THIS FILM, HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.

THEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE A VOICE, USE THAT VOICE.

TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO YOU.

IT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR US

BECAUSE POLICY THAT WE CREATE HERE IN THE U.S.

AFFECTS THE WHOLE WORLD'S POLICY,

AND THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,

THE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD -- THEY NEED OUR HELP.

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY,

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN EVERY YEAR.

ONE WOMAN IS TOO MANY WOMEN IF IT'S A PREVENTABLE DEATH,

AND EACH ONE OF THOSE WOMEN IS A MOTHER, SHE'S A SISTER,

SHE'S A COUSIN, SHE'S A FRIEND, SHE'S A WIFE.

AND I THINK WHEN WE EACH THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT WAY

AND IMAGINE SOMEBODY IN OUR OWN LIVES

AND IF THEY WEREN'T THERE AND IF THEY WERE LOST TO THIS,

WHAT A SHAME THAT WOULD BE AND WHAT A TRAGEDY THAT IS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVERY MOTHER COUNTS.

EVERY MOTHER.