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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s

A controversial study recently attributed the increase to a change in how they’re recorded: a “pregnancy checkbox” on death certificates recommended by the National Center for Health Statistics partly to fix an undercount. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many doctors pushed back against, which suggested the rate is about 10 in 100,000 live births. Some say the true rate may be somewhere in between — meaning it’s still higher than other wealthy nations.

Midwife Stephanie Wood examines Courtney Knight during a pregnancy checkup. Midwives at Commonsense Childbirth are striving to provide good, accessible care. (AP Photo/Laura Ungar)Midwife Stephanie Wood examines Courtney Knight during a pregnancy checkup. Midwives at Commonsense Childbirth are striving to provide good, accessible care. (AP Photo/Laura Ungar)U.S. rates remain high despite proven ways to prevent maternal deaths and injuries, experts say — things like ensuring quality medical care at delivery; getting to know patients; addressing issues like addiction or poor nutrition; and providing care and support after the baby is born.

One of the most important things is making sure everyone can get regular prenatal checkups, which requires having enough health care providers.Consider Norway, which has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the world: zero. Through its universal health care system, people get free prenatal appointments at health centers near their homes. And like Sweden, Germany, France and the U.K., it has a robust supply of midwives.

For every 1,000 live births, Norway has 13 OB-GYNs and 54 midwives, the

found, compared with 12 OB-GYNs and four midwives in the U.S. ThePig kidney recipient Towana Looney is visited by transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery at NYU Langone Health, in New York City. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Looney’s surgery marks an important step as scientists get ready for formal studies of xenotransplantation expected to begin next year, said Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who led the highly experimental procedure on Nov. 25.On Tuesday, NYU announced that Looney is recuperating well. She was discharged from the hospital just 11 days after surgery although she was temporarily readmitted this week to adjust her medications. Doctors expect her to return home to Gadsden, Alabama, in three months. If the pig kidney were to fail, she could begin dialysis again.

“To see hope restored to her and her family is extraordinary,” said Dr. Jayme Locke, Looney’s original surgeon who secured Food and Drug Administration permission for the transplant.More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, most who need a kidney. Thousands die waiting and many more who need a transplant never qualify. Now, searching for an alternate supply, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike.