The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is the highest among affluent nations. Researchers believe that with better education, postpartum nurses could help mothers identify life-threatening complications.

Samantha Pierce of Cleveland has a 7-year-old daughter, Camryn. In 2009, Pierce gave premature birth to twins. The babies did not survive. Scientists say black women lead more stressful lives, which makes them more likely to give birth prematurely and puts their babies at risk of dying.

SIDs stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age. Some people call SIDS “crib death,” because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. However, cribs don’t cause SIDS.  Health care providers don’t know exactly what causes SIDS, but they do know:  The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

Wanda Irving holds her granddaughter, Soleil, in front of a portrait of Soleil's mother, Shalon, at her home in Sandy Springs, Ga. Wanda is raising Soleil since Shalon died of complications due to hypertension a few weeks after giving birth.

For years, efforts to fight Ohio’s infant mortality rate have focused on health care, both for babies and expecting mothers. A new report says addressing economic issues might be just as effective.