Over the past decade, the U.S. birth rate declined by roughly 20%. Maternal mortality rates, however, are rising at an alarmingly high rate, which means the number of babies being born is decreasing, while the number of women dying is increasing.
Despite having one of the most advanced health systems in the world, the U.S. currently has the highest pregnancy-related death rate among developed nations. Maternal deaths rose a staggering 40% in 2021 from just a year prior. While some of this is attributable to COVID, pre-pandemic maternal mortality levels were already steadily increasing.
Going back to the 1930s, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. was higher than in other comparable nations. With better maternity care, living conditions, and antibiotics, maternal mortality rates improved globally. While rates also began improving in the U.S., they began to rise again in the late 1990s, in part due to the inadequacies of the public healthcare system. As a result, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has deemed it a public health crisis, and the current administration has announced a call to action to improve parental and infant health outcomes.
How we got there
It’s simple: Pregnant women are not receiving the appropriate level of medical care. Racial and ethnic disparities only worsen the situation resulting in poor birth outcomes and more deaths for minorities. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was an astounding 2.6 times higher than their white peers.
This is unacceptable and we need to do better. As an OB/GYN, I see several opportunities to effect change to improve maternal outcomes–starting with better access to health professionals, increased patient education around prenatal and postpartum care, and continued investment in maternal health initiatives.
Prenatal and postpartum care matter
Prospective parents must have access to high-quality prenatal care, which is critical for successful outcomes. Babies born to mothers who do not receive prenatal care are more likely to suffer from preterm birth and low weight, or even die.
Postpartum care is another crucial component that is often downplayed or overlooked. More than half of deaths from pregnancy complications occurred during the postpartum period, with the majority happening in the first 12 weeks. Up to 70,000 people annually experience severe postpartum issues, including cardiac and cerebrovascular challenges, leading to…
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