Across the United States, an alarming number of women die during pregnancy or childbirth. And for each one who dies, dozens wind up with health problems that can last for years. Now women are being encouraged to watch what happens in the "fourth trimester."

A childbirth and parenting class in Champaign-Urbana focuses on using mindfulness and meditation to ease the pain of giving birth. The class is offered by Mindful Birth CU—a collaboration between two Carle hospital-trained midwives and University of Illinois psychology professor Heidemarie Laurent.

The organization Sistering CU trains volunteers from the community to offer a helping hand to new parents, with an emphasis on "mothering the mother."

On The 21st: Why is the U.S. struggling with maternal deaths during childbirth? Plus, we take a look at the opioid crisis in Illinois and hear about some of the important bills being taken up in the statehouse during the veto session.

Medicaid is the government health care program for the poor. That's the shorthand explanation. But Medicaid is so much more than that — which is why it's become the focal point of the battle in Washington to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.