This Heartbreaking Video Shows the Dangerous Risks of Giving Birth

Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled in the US since 1985, according to a 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another report by the World Health Organization shows approximately 830 women die each day from childbirth- and pregnancy-related causes. Merck, an American pharmaceutical company, has pledged to combat the alarming rates with its $500 million initiative to eliminate pregnancy-related deaths around the world.

To bring awareness to the deadly issue, the company released an intimate and emotional new video that highlights the global maternal mortality crisis from the perspectives of expectant mothers in Cape Town, South Africa; India; and more. "Merck for Mothers is committed to combatting this epidemic," said Mary-Ann Etiebet, executive director of Merck for Mothers. "We hope the PUSH video sheds light on this growing problem and the extent of maternal mortality across the globe."

Watch the powerful video above.