CBC spoke with nine women in Canada, the U.S. and Australia who say they had debilitating psychological side effects when they tried to come off domperidone, a drug that's often prescribed to help induce lactation, but isn't actually approved as a breastfeeding aid.

Over the course of an investigation into maternal health, CBC interviewed nearly 70 women who either came close to dying or suffered lasting trauma during pregnancy or in the months immediately after. Five women are sharing their stories in the hopes that others can learn from them.

Doctors are warning there is no consistent or reliable national system to collect and share information on maternal deaths and close calls. This is particularly tragic, they say, because most deaths and adverse outcomes are preventable. In the absence of government leadership, doctors are working to change that.