"I mean, women are created to give birth to children, you know," says Edgar Patton, a widowed husband.

According to a March of Dimes study, Tennessee scored the worst for maternal mortality rates. The non-profit measures rates by evaluating preterm birth rates, access to maternity care, and other key indicators of maternal and infant well-being.

Most couples dream about starting a family, like Patton and his wife, Jasmine. He says, "It took about two years using the IUI and IVF, and finally she was able to get pregnant."

Unfortunately, two days after giving birth to a baby girl, Jasmine passed away.

Patton says there were signs that something was wrong. "It's just a situation where you know she wasn't being heard," he believes.

According to the study, the Tennessee maternal mortality

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