tianna madison posting on instagram about her experience.with her medical directive and her will, giving birth to her son at just 26 weeks. i got the chance to sit down with her and ask her about that decision. here's our conversation. tianna madison the two-time olympian was training for the tokyo 2021 olympics when she learned she was two months' pregnant. the unexpected pregnancy took another unexpected turn at just 26 weeks. >> when i stepped out of the shower and dried off there was blood on my towel. i went to my partner and said we need to go to the hospital. we went to the hospital and i learned that i was dilated. >> reporter: when they left for the hospital, she grabbed her directive, along with her will. >> what specifically made you think if i'm going to the hospital right now, i need to have my will with me? >> i knew what the stats were for black women when they go into the hospital to give birth. my partner and i had discussed it. we were very prepared. we had a conversation. if it came between me and the baby, he would choose

this relay team that won gold in rio, experienced serious pregnanancy complications, including tianna madisonlling them something was wrong. they kept checkingng my vitals.. they kept sayingng no you're fi. >> that's a lot to carry on your shoulders. >> the messages that i really want black womomen especialllly take away from all of that's happening righght now is thahats is not at all our fault, but it is our problem now, and it's our responsibility to get home alive. >> reporter: according to the cdc, black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. experts point to disparities in hehealthcare, , underlyingng conditions, and racism in the medical field. another member of that relay team, allyson felix, had severe preeclampsia during her pregnancy with her daughter. >> you go through a real-life experience and you are just grateful for your life. >> reporter: this week felix wrote in an essay for "time" magazine that tori bowie's death couldn't be in vain and that the medical community has to do its part. she earnrned a social l work de so she c

joining you now, olympic track and field athlete, tianna madison. we're sorry for your loss. like for her to be remembered >> yes, thank you for having me. tori was such a light, so full of joy, and just a fearless athlete. she was a social work major, had a heart of service, a heart for people, and i think the world over is going to be reeling from her loss for a long time >> yeah, and i'm so glad you're keeping her memory alive thank you for taking the time to speak with us. i know you have been generally outs outspoken. you spoke online and said as of june 2023, three of four members of the team usa's four by 100 relay team have nearly died or did die in childbirth. we deserve better -- we being black women. can you share with us your experience when you had your child and also why you said that how notable you, as olympians are dealing with this? >> it's a stark image. being top 1% in your sport doesn't give you immunity from this crisis. and in my own story, as an athlete who prides herself on knowing her body and what's wrong with it at any given time wasn't believe or

our janai norman spoke with tianna madison who also experienced complications in pregnancy ultimately, three have been here? >> i was like, oh my god. all three of us have had this experience. one of us didn't make it. >> reporter: the latest report from the cdc finding shockingly high rates of maternal mortality in the u.s. a 40% spike in 2021 with black women three to four times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause than white women. >> in 2021, we lost over 1,200 people to maternal mortality. and turns out more than 80% of those deaths were preventible. >> it is not our fault but it is our problem. we need to put ourselves in position to save ourselves and educate ourselves and advocate. >> reporter: black women have a higher risk of experiencing preclampsia. it is important doctors know the warning signs and take those seriously to ensure these women are given timely treatment. >> it is preventible. thank you very much, eva. we'll have much more on this important topic tomorrow on gma saturday. ginger, over to you. >> michael, thank you very much. within that tornado w