In this conversation, Dr. Marci Lobel discusses thecritical issue of prenatal maternal stress, its implications on birth outcomes, and the importance of understanding and measuring stress during pregnancy. She highlights the barriers to implementing effective stress management tools in healthcare, the racial disparities affecting maternal health, and the emotional distress associated with assisted reproductive technologies. Dr. Lobel also emphasizes the need for policy changes to improve maternal health and offers actionable strategies for pregnant women to manage stress effectively.