#9 The Maternal Health Crisis
The maternal mortality rate is going up in America.
Why isn’t this talked about more?
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 1,205 women died from birth-related complications in 2021. That’s a mom death rate of 32.9 for every 100,000 live births. The rate has been rising for the past decade with a particular spike during the pandemic when access to healthcare was shaky, racial inequality came to a head, and higher healthcare costs. The numbers are trending a bit better for 2022, at 733 deaths. But this is still not good! The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. Our death rate is 32.9 compared to Australia’s rate is 2. What can we do about this? Throughout pregnancy, prenatal care is crucial. Monitor blood pressure and increases in swelling. Don’t ignore a sudden headache, shortness of breath, or a spot on your leg that is warm and tender to the touch. Keep monitoring yourself for these symptoms even after birth. It is possible to develop eclampsia postpartum. Risks are greater with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, or covid-19. Mortality rates are also higher among Black women and women over the age of 40. These deaths may be preventable. We need to be paying attention to the signs. The top culprits are hemorrhage, high blood pressure (eclampsia), infection, and cardiomyopathy. Mental health concerns crop up as well. Attend follow up appointments. Call your doctor or midwife if you feel something is not right. Half of the reported deaths occur postpartum, more specifically between day 7-42. Most women are not scheduled to see their provider until 6 weeks (that’s day 42!) postpartum. Another reason cited for the high mortality rate is that home visits and postpartum care is lacking compared to other developed countries where home visits, extended maternity leave, and midwifery is the norm.
This is a big topic for my little blog. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss more. There is bill waiting to pass legislature in NH soon, extending postpartum Medicaid coverage; call your representative. More importantly, if you are postpartum and experiencing any warning signs you may have heard about, call your provider.
