**Democracy Dies in Darkness**
Disproportionate rates of a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication highlight the stress of social and economic issues.
By Carina Hecker and Kyle Wiley, The Conversation
The Conversation is an independent, nonprofit news organization that provides readers with factual analysis from researchers and scientists, helping to clarify complexities in the world.
In November 2020, a woman named Lupe experienced troubling symptoms during the last weeks of her pregnancy. Dark spots began to obscure her vision. She was part of a research study focusing on the impact of emotional distress on maternal health in El Paso, Texas. Later, she shared her childbirth experience in a postpartum interview. The study used pseudonyms to maintain participants’ privacy, including Lupe’s.