Local News Breaking Big Stories on Maternal Health

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StoryReach U.S. Breaks Urgent Maternal Health Story in Louisiana

The Pulitzer Center was not expecting that the first story published from our StoryReach U.S. local reporting network would be breaking news. StoryReach U.S. is a new initiative that supports journalists partnered with local U.S. outlets to pursue yearlong investigations and innovative audience engagement across topics such as health and racial justice.

While investigating pregnancy challenges and maternal mortality in rural Louisiana for her project, Deserted: Pregnancy in Rural Louisiana, with the Louisiana Illuminator, StoryReach U.S. Fellow Lorena O’Neil received a tip that brought her to a story. A new Louisiana law that limits access to the drug misoprostol is set to go into effect on October 1, reclassifying it as a “controlled and dangerous substance.” This life-saving medication can be used in emergency scenarios, including treating postpartum hemorrhaging and miscarriages. But because misoprostol is also used for abortion, it has been targeted by Louisiana conservatives.

Now, doctors are rushing to develop postpartum hemorrhage policies that will comply with the new law, with some hospitals already removing misoprostol from their emergency carts in anticipation of the law going into effect. Health professionals have described any potential delay in access as a life-or-death scenario for their patients.

While the Pulitzer Center does not define itself as a “breaking news” organization in the traditional sense, we aim to support journalists and their outlets in maximizing engagement with and impact through their journalism. This story had an immediate impact: The Kamala Harris-Tim Walz presidential campaign responded, as did the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), issuing guidance for doctors in using the drug. Louisiana doctors have since criticized the LDH, reports O’Neil, stating that the guidance is not helpful and contains errors. “Whoever wrote this has not spent time in a labor unit,” said a New Orleans OB-GYN.

Two recent projects supported by the Pulitzer Center also focus on U.S. maternal health. In After Birth: The American Postpartum Crisis, Reporting Fellow Florence Middleton examines the maternal mortality crisis in Arkansas, the state with the highest maternal mortality rate. Perils of Pregnancy: Black Maternal Mortality, reported by grantees Kylie Marsh and Herbert L. White at The Charlotte Post, looks at maternal mortality linked to slavery-era medical exploitation in the South.

In an important election year in the U.S. and many countries around the world, stay tuned for other important stories coming from our nine StoryReach U.S. Fellows partnered with local U.S. newsrooms. If you’re interested in exploring more reporting on maternal health and other health issues, visit our Global Health focus area page.

Best,

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Impact

In a press release on the same day as the publication of O'Neil's story “Doctors Grapple With How To Save Women’s Lives Amid ‘Confusion and Angst’ Over New Louisiana Law,” the Harris-Walz presidential campaign shared the story with a statement on the controversial law. “Doctors are scrambling to find solutions to save their patients and are left at the whims of politicians who think they know better,” Harris-Walz spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said. The new law goes into effect on Oct. 1.

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“By amplifying Linda's story, we hoped to shed light on the complexities of Michoacán, a land where verdant life thrives alongside the scars of violence. It's a story that deserves to be heard, not just for its tragedy, but for the strength and resilience of its people."

—Stephania Corpi, reporting partner to Toya Sarno Jordan

This message first appeared in the September 13, 2024, edition of the Pulitzer Center's weekly newsletter. Subscribe today.

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