♪ CRYSTAL: EVERYBODY, I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," WITH A RADICAL ANTI-IMMIGRATION PLANS AND HOSTILE RHETORIC, EXPERTS SAY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ECHOING THE LIKES OF HITLER AND MUSSOLINI.

WHAT DAMAGE DO THESE KINDS OF COMMENTS HAVE FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

AND WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TRUMPET RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

PLUS, MORE BABIES IN THE U.S. ARE BEING BORN PREMATURELY, SOMETIMES LEADING TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.

HOW CAN MOTHERS KEEP BABIES SAFE?

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AS ADVOCATES WAY IN -- WEIGH IN.

HAVE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN SINCE HE DEFENDED HIS GOLDEN ESCALATOR BACK IN 2015, DONALD TRUMP USING OVERLY RACIST AND ALARMING LANGUAGE TOWARDS HIS OPPONENTS, IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

NOW, TAKING THINGS EVEN FURTHER, REPORTEDLYPLANNING TO ROUND UP UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S. AND BUILD DETENTION CAMPS IF ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO AN EXTENSIVE REPORT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WAS A TRUMP ADVISOR'’S TOLD THEM A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO EXPAND IDEOLOGICAL SCREENINGS OF THESE APPLICANTS AND BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, AND CUT OFF HUMANITARIAN PRODUCTIONS FOR MANY WHO HAVE ALREADY SOUGHT ASYLUM IN THE U.S.. THAT TWICE IMPEACHED EX-PRESIDENT IS ALSO RUSSIAN ENDING UP RHETORIC AGAINST HIS POLITICAL -- BUDGETING AT RHETORIC AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> WE'’LL ROOT OUT THE COMMUNISTS, FASCISTS, AND THE RADICAL LEFT THUGS THAT LIVE LIKE VERMIN WITHIN THE CONFINES OF OUR COUNTRY THAT LIE AND STEAL AND CHEAT ON ELECTIONS,"” AND WILL DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE, THE WHETHER LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY, TO DESTROY AMERICA AND TO DESTROY THE AMERICAN DREAM.

"” CRYSTAL: TO THOSE MADE BY FASCIST DICTATORS LIKE HITLER AND MUSSOLINI, EXPRESSING ALARM OVER THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE.

TO DISCUSS THIS COMPARISON AND TRUMP'’S COMMENTS HERE, I AM JOINED BY ELIZABETH SWEET, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADVOCACY, OR NEWARK COALITION OR MIRA COALITION, AND JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT, HOST OF THE "POLITICS AND PROSECCO" PODCAST."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE SOME WILD THINGS SAID GOING INTO THIS ELECTION SEASON, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS LATEST ROUND OF COMMENTS IS REALLY DANGEROUS.

JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN ON SOME OF THIS.

JACQUETTA: MILD IS PUTTING IT MILDLY.

THIS IS A HARD AND DISGUSTING AND HARKENS BACK TO THE MCCARTHY ERA WHERE THERE IS NO ONE SPEAKING UP, NO ONE HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY RHETORIC, BUT A DANGEROUS WAY TO THINK HE IS.

PLAYING ON PEOPLE'’S FEARS, ON THEIR RACIST TENDENCIES.

I AM SHOCKED THAT IN 2023 GOING INTO 2024 THAT WE IN AMERICA ARE A LOVING SOMEONE LIKE THIS TO EVEN SPEAK IN OUR COUNTRY -- ARE ALLOWING SOMEONE LIKE THIS TO EVEN SPEAK IN OUR COUNTRY.

I UNDERSTAND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUSM ELIZABETH, WHAT IS THE DANGER TO THE IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND NATION WHEN YOU HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SEEN THESE TYPES OF THINGS?

ELIZABETH: IT ABSOLUTELY IS DANGEROUS.

I HAVE TO STRONGLY AGREE WITH THAT NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT INCREASES THAT SENSE THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF PERMISSION FOR US TO USE THIS TYPE OF RHETORIC AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT IT IS ALSO RAISING PROPOSALS THAT QUITE FRANKLY ARE IMMORAL.

PROBABLY ILLEGAL, AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY UN-AMERICAN.

CRYSTAL: ONE OF THE THINGS HE MENTIONED WAS THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, DACA.

WE KNOW THE SUPREME COURT ALREADY UPHELD THAT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS HE IS PROPOSING, NONE OF THAT SEEMS TO MATTER ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, JACQUETTA.

JACQUETTA: THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO ZERO IN ON.

THIS CAN LEAD TO RACIAL PROFILING.

ANYBODY WHO LOOKS NON-EUROPEAN IS GOING TO BE AT RISK OF BEING HARMED, OF BEING RIDICULED, OF BEING EVEN HARMED IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY.

I JUST KEEP GOING BACK TO THE WORD "DANGEROUS," BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I SEE IN MY HEAD.

I SEE A YOUNG 14-YEAR-OLD LATINX BOY WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN PLAYING INTO TRUMP'’S RHETORIC TARGETING HIM.

I SEE BLACK BOYS BEING PULLED OVER BY POLICE -- IT'’S A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

I DON'’T THINK THIS IS GOING TO -- WE CAN SIT HERE AND SAY HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS -- BUT THIS RESONATES WITH HIS SUPPORTERS.

THEY BELIEVE THAT DARKER PEOPLE ARE A THREAT TO THEIR EXISTENCE, AND THAT IS WHAT HE IS PLAYING ON.

THE TRUTH IS IT ISN'’T.

WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS POVERTY.

BEING POOR IS WHAT ALLOWS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO TARGET OTHER GROUPS TO OPPRESS THEM.

THAT IS WHAT THIS FEAR IS COMING OUT OF.

CRYSTAL: SUPPORTERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ACTUALLY HAVE ELECTED SEATS BEING HELD ARE SUPPORTING TRUMP AND HIS COMMENTS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER TO START PROPOSING SOME OF THESE THINGS.

JACQUETTA: BUT THEY DON'’T HAVE THE POWER, BECAUSE THE POWER IS WITH HIM.

IF THEY GO AGAINST HIM, THEY LOSE THEIR POWER.

BY SIMPLY SAYING "I SUPPORT THIS PERSON," HE CAN GET SOMEONE INTO CONGRESS.

HE STILL HOLDS THE POWER AND THAT IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

THEY DON'’T HAVE THE POWER TO SPEAK AGAINST HIM.

IF I WERE NIKKI HALEY OR CHRIS CHRISTIE OR EVEN RON DESANTIS, I WOULD BE TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT CONTRAST WHO ARE M FROM WHOM HE IS -- WHO I AM FROM HE IS.

BUT THAT'’S NOT WHAT WE'’RE SEEING FROM CONGRESS.

NO ONE IS TOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

IT'’S SAD BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST POWER IN THIS COUNTRY, IS IN CONGRESS.

CRYSTAL: MM.

ELIZABETH, WE KNOW THERE ARE MIGRANTS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT ARE SEEKING HELP, SUPPORT AND SERVICES.

AND THE STATE HAS PROVIDED THOSE FOR THEM.

IS THERE A CONCERN WHEN YOU ARE HOPING OR HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE FOLKS, WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THESE THINGS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, DOES NOT WORRY THEM?

?

DOES THAT MAKE THEM CONCERNED?

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT CONVERSATION?

ELIZABETH: IT'’S A GREAT QUESTION, AND ABSOLUTELY, THESE COMMENTS SHOULD CONCERN ALL OF US WHO ARE WANTING TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST NEIGHBORS.

THE REALITY IS THAT SADLY EVEN HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, SHOPPING AS IT IS, -- SHOCKING AS IT IS, WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE RALLIES AND ACTIONS TAKEN BY NEO-NAZI INDIVIDUALS IN THE PAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGAINST SOME OF THE NEW IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE AND WHO SO MANY OF US ARE WELCOMING AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO.

SO AGAIN, WHEN WE HEAR A NATIONAL FIGURE MAKING THESE COMMENTS, IT FEELS AS IF WE ARE OPENING THE DOOR TO SUCH AN UGLY MANIFESTATION THAT NONE OF US WANT TO SEE MORE OF, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

CRYSTAL: WE KNOW THAT WE HAD TO CAP CAPACITY FOR MIGRANTS, AND FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONVERSATION, OF THAT ARGUMENT THERE.

DOES IT HURT YOUR EFFORTS WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE LIKE TRUMP, STORING UP FOLKS AND SAYING, " LISTEN, WE HAD A TON OF MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE JUST HAD TO CUT THEM OFF."

DOES THAT MAKE YOU WORK HARDER?

ELIZABETH: IN SOME RESPECTS, YES.

IT'’S ALSO INCREDIBLY SHORTSIGHTED.

THE SIMPLE REALITY IS THAT WE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ACTUALLY NAVIGATING SOME REAL WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.

NEW IMMIGRANTS COME HERE WANTING TO WORK.

HE SPOKE ABOUT ENDING THE DACA PROGRAM, AND THE REALITY IS THAT THESE D.R.E.A.M.E.R.S.

ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR LIVES.

THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED ACTUALLY BILLIONS INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY, PAID BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES.

SO OFFENDING THE DACA PROGRAM SIMPLY MAKES NO SENSE FROM AN ECONOMIC OR HUMANITARIAN PERSPECTIVE.

CRYSTAL: JACK KATA WE HAVE HAD DEBATE OVER DEBATE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, TRUMP IS STILL THE FRONT RUNNER BY MANY DIGITS OVER A LOT OF THESE CANDIDATES.

COULD WE SEE SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES START TO ADOPT SOME OF THESE TALKING POINTS?

JACQUETTA: I DON'’T THINK WHO I THINK ARE THE TOP THREE -- DESANTIS, KRISTI AND HALEY, DOING THAT.

I SEE THEM INCHING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT RHETORIC, BUT THEY STILL HAVE AN APOLOGY TOUR.

OUTSIDE OF THE CENTERS.

HE WILL NEVER ADMIT HE WAS WRONG ABOUT TRUMP, AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH TRUMP COMES UP TO HIM, HE WILL NOT SPEAK UP.

BUT NIKKI HALEY AND CHRIS CHRISTIE HAVE BOTH BEEN VOCAL -- I HAVE SEEN ON THE DEBATE STAGE WHERE THEY ARE SAYING, LISTEN, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY.

I DON'’T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH IT -- [LAUGHTER] -- WITH THEIR TRAJECTORY FOR WHERE THEY WANT TO TAKE THE COUNTRY, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT AS BAD AS TRUMP.

IT'’S SAD TO SAY THAT IT'’S NOT AS BAD.

WHERE THEY WILL HAVE TO DO IS MAKE CONTRASTS BETWEEN THEM AND HIM.

THEY WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW WAY TO UNITE THEIR OWN PARTY.

THAT'’S THE ISSUE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

.

I AM NOT THEIR AUDIENCE SO THEY WILL NOT TALK TO ME.

IT WILL NOT CHANGE MY VOTE PERMITTED THERE WILL HAVE TO TALK TO MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND BRING THEM BACK INTO THE FOLD.

CRYSTAL: I IMAGINE FOLKS ARE THINKING THAT A TRUMP WHITE HOUSE IS POSSIBLE AGAIN ANOTHER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE IS POSSIBLE AGAIN.

.

I HATE TO HAVE YOU.

LOOK IN YOUR CRISTOBAL.

BUT DO YOU THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT -- I HATE TO HAVE YOU LOOK AT YOUR CRYSTAL, BALL, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.

JACQUETTA: IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE TWO GOOD PEOPLE NOT ONLY TO VOTE, BUT TO MOBILIZE THEM TO VOTE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE INSIDE FULLY LOCATIONS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WE HAVE TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET TO THE POLLS.

IT'’S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY "GO OUT AND VOTE."

WHAT BARACK OBAMA DID BY TURNING THE TRIANGLE UPSIDE DOWN AND BUILDING A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN, THAT IS WHERE IT HAS TO START OR WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE TRUMP IS -- IT'’S GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT ON ELECTION NIGHT.

CRYSTAL: DOES IT SURPRISE YOU THAT POLL AFER POLL, TRUMP IS LEAVING THE PARTY WHEN WE HAVE SEEN THE FRACTURE AND DISARRAY THAT HAPPENS JUST TRYING TO GET SPEAKER IN THE HOUSE, AND COMMENTS LIKE THIS -- IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC REALLY BEHIND THESE COMMENTS.

JACQUETTA: IT'’S NOT SHOCKING TO ME.

THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON A LOT OF DIVISION.

WE CAN GO INTO THE GLORY AND ROMANTICIZE THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IT WAS BUILT ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPRESSED AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ERASE IN OVER 200 YEARS.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ONLY THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED FROM SLAVERY.

I AM NOT SURPRISED A MAN IS ABLE TO RISE IN THIS COUNTRY WITH THAT KIND OF RHETORIC AND STILL PLAY ON PEOPLE COMMIT WE ARE NOT.

WE ARE NOT-POSED RACIAL.

WE HAVE SEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ANOTHER CONFLICT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON DECADES AND DECADES.

FOR ME, THE ISSUE IS HOW DO WE UNITE, OF THE REMOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD?

WHAT POLICIES AND BRIDGES MISSIONS DO WE WANT IN PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP WILL NOT RISE AGAIN IN 10 OR 15 YEARS?

CRYSTAL: WELL SAID.

JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT AND ELIZABETH SWEET, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEARLY ONE IN 10 NEWBORNS ARE BORN FROM MATURE.

IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN IF PARENTS FOLLOW DOCTORS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER, BUT MANY PARENTS DON'’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROPER CARE AND CONS MRS. CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING -- CONSEQUENCES CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING.

THE MARCH OF DIMES REPORT CARD GAVE THE U.S. A D JARED: + FOR ITS RISING PRETERM BIRTH RATE.

DISPARITIES WERE MADE WORSE BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE GROUP IS SET TO RELEASE ITS 2023 REPORT CARD THIS WEEK DURING NATIONAL PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH, AND ON THE WORLD FOR MAJORITY DAY.

THE DIRECTOR OF MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH AT MARCH OF DIMES, CHLOE SCHWARTZ, JOINS ME NOW WITH A PREVIEW OVER THINGS STAND, ALONE WITH FARIDA YADA,'’S RESEARCH ASSISTANT AT THE TOUGH SCHOOL OF UNIVERSITY THE MOTHER LAB, AND STEPHANIE SHINE IS A NICU NURSE AND MOTHER OF A PRETERM CHILD.

WELCOMED ON THE VIEW.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO TELL OUR GUESTS THAT I AM A BOARD MEMBER OF THE MARCH OF DIMES, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'’S AN ISSUE THAT TOUCHES SO MANY FOLKS SLOWLY, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

THIS IS NOT REASSURING IN TERMS OF WOMEN WANTING TO BRING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD, BIRTHING PEOPLE BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD BUT I AM SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE A D+ RATING.

CHLOE: YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD THERE.

IT'’S NOT REASSURING.

THE STATISTIC THAT REALLY GETS FULL ATTENTION, BEFORE THE WORST , IT IS, IF I WERE TO GIVE BIRTH THIS YEAR, I WOULD BE 50% MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN MY OWN MOTHER WAS ONE GENERATION AGO.

THAT IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE IN THE U.S.

RIGHT NOW.

THAT COMES FROM NORMS ESPECIALLY ARE GETTING WORSE BUT WE ARE NOT BEING GREAT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HEALTH OF BABIES EITHER.

PRETERM BIRTH IS THE CO-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IN MANY STATES ACROSS THE U.S. FOR INSTANCE, AND IT'’S NOT JUST THE NATIONAL CRISIS, IS AN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE DON'’T NECESSARILY KNOW THE CAUSE OF A LOT OF PRETERM BIRTHS, BUT IT IS NOT GETTING MUCH BETTER IN RECENT YEARS.

AND AS THE REPORT REFERENCED, LAST YEAR, IT WAS THE WORST PRETERM BIRTH RATE FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE HAVE REPORTED STARTED CARDS -- SINCE WE STARTED THESE REPORT CARDS.

NOT REASSURING.

CRYSTAL: WORKING WITH MOTHERS IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND ALSO IN RESEARCHING DATA ON CHANGING THESE OUTCOMES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH CARE PROVIDERS?

FARIDA: SO FOR BLACK WOMEN SPECIFICALLY IN THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF PRETERM BIRTH, WE ARE HEARING THINGS LIKE THEIR FEELINGS BEING DISMISSED, THEIR SYMPTOMS BEING IGNORED, THEIR TREATMENT BEING DELAYED, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY EXACERBATED BY STRUCTURAL RACISM AND EXPERIENCES OF DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY, AND WE HAVE DATA ON THAT RIGHT HERE FROM THE MARCH OF DIMES REPORT CARD, 2022.

BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN ARE 62 PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO HAVE PRETERM BIRTH AND THEIR BABIES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE AS COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN.

ADDITIONALLY, OVER 21.1% OF WOMEN, AND 26.8% OF AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKAN NATIVE WOMEN IN THE U.S. NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE PRENATAL CARE.

IS THIS AN ACCESS TO RESOURCES ISSUE, OR DOES IT NOT MATTER IN TERMS OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS AND WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE?

FARIDA: IT DOES MATTER.

A LOT OF IT FRANKLY HAS TO DO WITH A LACK OF ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

IN THE UNITED STATES SPECIFICALLY STATES AND COUNTRIES BEEN, WITH HIGHER PROPORTIONS OF BLACK RESIDENTS THEREFORE HIGHER PROPORTIONS OF BLACK BIRTH HAVE LOWER ACCESS MATERNITY CARE SERVICES AND A LOT OF THEM LIVED IN HEALTH CARE DESERT AND, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN LOTS OF LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT CLOSURES AFFECTING A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY.

STEPHANIE, AS WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRO OF THIS SEGMENT, YOU CAN DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND STILL HAVE A PRETERM BABY.

MY SON WAS WORN AT 35 WEEKS I, KNOW EXACTLY HOW THAT FEELS HAVING HIM HOOKED UP TWO DIFFERENT MACHINES AND JUST SORT OF THAT CONSTANT HUM OF MACHINES IN THE ROOM.

YOU ARE A EQ NURSE, AND YOU HAD A PRETERM BABY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT BALANCE OF KNOWING, TO SOME DEGREE, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN HE OR SHE IS BORN A YOUNG OR EARLY, BUT ALSO, STILL BEING THE MOM THAT GOES THROUGH THAT.

STEPHANIE: YEAH I I MEAN, YOUR LIFE WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER, I WILL SAY.

IT IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY CAN'’T IMAGINE.

BEING A NICU NURSE WHO HAD TAKEN CARE OF BABIES FOR EIGHT YEARS AT THE TIME AND BEING COUNTLESS FAMILIES GO THROUGH THIS, I COULDN'’T IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE MY OWN BABY BE BORN AT 26 WEEKS.

MY SON ONLY WEIGHED ONE POUND WHEN HE WAS BORN.

I WAS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO WORK THAT NIGHT, BUT HAD TO, SO I COULD DELIVER.

SO IT COMES VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, NO ONE EVER EXPECTS TO JOIN THIS CLUB OF BEING A MOTHER OR FATHER OF A PREMATURE BABY.

THERE ARE SOME MUCH THAT COMES WITH IT, SO MANY DAILY TRAUMAS OF JUST BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR BABY, NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING THEM HOME, KINGDOM GO THROUGH THESE PROCEDURES, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT COME AFTER YOU BRING YOUR BABY HOME.

IT'’S NOT OVER ONCE YOU LEAVE THIS NICU.

IT CAN CARRY ON FOR YEARS.

SO THE IMPACT IS FAR GREATER THAN EVEN AS A NICU NURSE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

CRYSTAL: YES, ONE GBH NEWS REPORT SHOWS THAT MEDICAL BILLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN PRETERM TOTAL $17 BILLION EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S. AND MUCH OF THAT COST IS BORNEE BY MEDICAID A PROGRAM THAT COVERS NEARLY HALF OF ALL BIRTHS IN THE U.S. ECONOMISTS AT THAT MEDICAL CARE FOR THE MOTHER, THE PRICE TAG FOR THINGS LIKE SPECIAL EDUCATION IF THAT HAPPENS, LOST WAGES, PRODUCTIVITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PREEMIES HAVE OTHER THINGS THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES LASTING INTO ADULTHOOD, THE ANNUAL COST SWELLS TO $25 BILLION.

YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD TO CALL OFF YOUR SHIFT IN ORDER TO GIVE BIRTH.

I IMAGINE THAT WAS A BALANCING ACT FOR YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

STEPHANIE: CERTAINLY IT WAS.

AND I ACTUALLY, AT THE TIME, WENT BACK TO WORK AROUND THREE WEEKS AFTER HE WAS BORN AND WORKED WHILE HE WAS IN THE NICU IN ORDER TO PROTECT MY PAID TIME OFF FROM WHEN HE CAME HOME.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS NOW, WITH THE MNLA, IS MUCH IMPROVED AND WE HAVE STRONGER PATERNITY LEAVE NOW.

MY SON IS 10.

I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF THAT AND THAT IS GREAT.

IF THE BALANCING ACT OF HAVING TO WORK WHILE YOUR CHILD IS CRITICALLY ILL, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I THINK THAT THE STRESS THAT FAMILIES GO THROUGH TO ENDURE FROM THESE HOSPITALIZATIONS IS INSURMOUNTABLE.

WE -- SINCE I HAVE STARTED, WE ARE ABLE TO PUSH BACK PAGE LIABILITY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING AS A NICU NURSE, IT WAS 24 WEEKS, SOMETIMES 23.

NOW IT IS ABOUT 22 WEEKS.

THESE CAN BE SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO IT CAN BE EXTREMELY TRYING ON FAMILIES, AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SUPPORT.

CRYSTAL: SO, CHLOE, AS WE THINK ABOUT WORLD FOR MATURITY DATE, NATIONAL MATURITY MONTH, THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT AFFECT EVERY ASPECT OF EVERYONE'’S LIVES WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO BE HAVING CHILDREN OR NOT.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ECONOMISTS CONNECTING THE DOTS AS WELL, SO IMPORTANT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

CHLOE: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, IN TODAY'’S WORLD, IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION.

HISTORICALLY THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

INSTANCES LIKE WORLD FOR MATURITY ON NOVEMBER 17, AND PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH, IT'’S REALLY ONLY THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF IT WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD MILESTONE, BUT IT HASN'’T RECEIVED THE SAME ATTENTION OTHER SECTORS OF HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL PROGRESS HAVE RECEIVED.

I THINK THAT IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN DIFFERENT HEALTH OUTCOMES.

BUT WE LOVE WORLD PREMATURITY DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS WE GET TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT NOT JUST MARCH OF DIMES IS DOING, BUT ALL OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

.

WE GET TO DRESS UP IN PURPLE BECAUSE THAT IS THE COLOR FOR WORLD PREMATURITY DAY.

BOSTON LANDMARKS LIGHT UP IN PURPLE.

IT'’S WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYONE COME TOGETHER ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY.

FARIDA, TALK TO ME HIM.

ABOUT THE MOTHER LAB AND THE WORK YOU DO TO UPLIFT MOTHERS OF COLOR, BECAUSE WE KNOW PRETERM RATES ARE REALLY HIGH IN MOTHERS OF COLOR, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT.

FARIDA: AT THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, WE WORK TO PROTECT THE BLACK BIRTHING EXPERIENCE BY ADVOCATING FOR QUALITY EQUITABLE, AND RESPECTABLE CARE IN CHILDBIRTH.

THE CENTER SEEKS TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE BLACK WOMEN CAN SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND COMFORTABLY RECEIVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, LABOR AND DELIVERY CARE WITHOUT HAVING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION.

ONE OF OUR CURRENT PROJECTS AT THE MOTHER LAB ADDRESSES THE PERCEPTIONS OF MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY STATISTICS FROM A PATIENT AND PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE.

OUR GOAL WAS NOT -- WITH THAT PROJECT WAS TO GIVE BACK MOMS OPPORTUNITIES TO FEEL EMPOWERED DURING THE PREGNANCY, LABOR AND DELIVERY AND POSTPARTUM PERIOD.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE.

ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE CLINICAL TRIALS.

WE JUST PUT OUT A GBH NEWS ANALYSIS THAT FOUND CLINICAL TRIALS ON PRETERM BIRTHS LAG FAR BEHIND OTHER CONDITIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, I WANT TO PUT THIS QUOTE UP, IT'’S LENGTHY.

THERE ARE MORE DRUG TRIALS FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION THAN ABOUT PRETERM BIRTH IN WOMEN.

15 TIMES THE NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRAILS ABOUT BREAST CANCER THAN ABOUT PRETERM BIRTH AND WOMEN, AND MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS ABOUT INFERTILITY.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT FOLKS TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THESE OUTCOMES?

I KNOW THE MARCH OF DIMES IS PUTTING OUT THEIR ON REPORT THIS WEEK, BUT THERE IS A LONG-TERM IMPACT.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT THE MONEY, THE WILL, THE SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS MAY NOT BE HERE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

CHLOE: I THINK IT HAS MADE PROGRESS IN RECENT YEARS, BUT IT IS STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE.

MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN MANY WAYS, BUT OUTCOMES STILL AREN'’T CATCHING UP AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

MY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE, AND THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION ON WHERE IS THIS INVESTMENT IN MATERNAL HEALTH AND INFANT HEALTH COMING FROM AND HOW WE CAN GROW IT.

MARCH OF DIMES IS A 35-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION.

WE HOPE OUR MESSAGE STILL RESONATES WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE BASED ON OUR HISTORICAL LEGACY.

WE HAVE HAD MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE WORLD OF BIRTH DEFECTS AND PRETERM BIRTHS AND MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH IS LARGE, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO BE DONE AND SO MANY WAYS TO IMPACT NETWORK.

YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MOTHER LAB DOING RESEARCH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS ALSO DOING RESEARCH AND READING THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON BEACON HILL AND CAPITOL HILL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL.

THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE SOLUTION.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

CRYSTAL: THAT'’S TRUE.

STEPHANIE, IN OUR LAST 20 SECONDS, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER MOMS WITH PREEMIES?

I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT OURSELVES, WITH JAMES BEING BORN EARLY, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO MOMS?

STEPHANIE: I THINK THAT WHILE THE JOURNEY IS INCREDIBLY HARD AND YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU WOULD FIND YOURSELF THERE, WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS THAT THESE BABIES ARE SO INCREDIBLY RESILIENT AND SO MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE, SUCH A TINY HUMAN CAN BE.

THEY USUALLY SURPASS YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

I FIND MOST MOMS ARE SURPRISED BY HOW STRONG THEIR TINY LITTLE BABY CAN BE.

AND TO JUST HOLD ON.

KEEP MOVING.

CRYSTAL: YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] VERY WELL SAID.

CHLOE SCHWARTZ, FARIDA YADA, STEPHANIE SHINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪