While analyzing death certificates, the researchers used their new method for coding maternal deaths. For that method, the application of the pregnancy checkbox was restricted to only people ages 10 to 44, compared with ages 10 to 54 in past years when states were adding the checkbox. Also, for those marked as pregnant only, the underlying cause of death was restricted to maternal-related causes, according to the new method.
Waiting a year between pregnancies lowers health risks, study says. Midwives, doulas could benefit births -- but not all women have access. In other words, "what NCHS has done is to say, 'OK we're not going to include any pregnancies over the age of 45 if the only reason we would be considering it is the pregnancy checkbox,'" said Dr.
Elliott Main, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine and medical director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, who was not involved in the report.
While the new method used in the report was intended to improve maternal mortality estimates, the researchers noted in the report that it "does not correct all errors, nor does it address all issues" and, due to the focus on females ages 10 to 44, it may result in underestimated maternal deaths at ages 45 and older, and overestimations for ages 10 to America just had its lowest number of births in 32 years, report finds.
Studying maternal deaths in general can be challenging -- even "messy," Main said. Heart disease and stroke caused more than 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths between and in the United States, according to the CDC. Other leading causes of maternal death included infections and hemorrhage, which is severe bleeding. Anemia doubles risk of death for pregnant women, study finds. These deaths may be caused by: A health condition such as heart disease that someone had before pregnancy that gets worse because of pregnancy A pregnancy complication, such as preeclampsia a serious blood pressure condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth Treatment provided during pregnancy The differences between pregnancy-related death and maternal death are important to health care providers and researchers who study this topic to help us understand more about why moms die from conditions related to pregnancy.
Who is at risk for pregnancy-related death? About moms die each year in the United States from complications during or after pregnancy. Race and pregnancy-related death In the United States, Black pregnant people are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white pregnant people are.
This control means that people in the dominant group are more likely to: Have better education and job opportunities Live in safer environmental conditions Be shown in a positive light by media, such as television shows, movies, and news programs. Be treated with respect by law enforcement Have better access to health care In contrast, people from racial or ethnic minority groups who live in a racist culture are more likely to: Experience chronic stress Live in an unsafe neighborhood Live in areas that have higher amounts of environmental toxins, such as air, water, and soil pollution Go to a low-performing school Have limited access to healthy foods Have little or no access to health insurance and quality medical care Have less access to well-paying jobs Being a person of color is not a cause for pregnancy-related death.
Age, health and pregnancy-related death The risk of pregnancy-related death also increases with age. What can you do to reduce your risk of pregnancy-related death?
Pregnancy-related death can be caused by health conditions you have before pregnancy. Finding out about them and getting treatment before you get pregnant can help prevent death. Tell your provider about any medicines you take. Protect yourself from infections. For example, talk with your provider about vaccinations such as the flu shot that can help protect you from certain diseases.
Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom or blowing your nose. Stay away from people who have infections. Use a condom to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections also called STIs.
If you have a cat, ask someone else to change the litter box. Get to a healthy weight. Eat healthy foods and do something active every day. Tell your provider if you need help to quit. This can help your health care provider spot and treat any health problems that may affect your pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a serious condition that condition that can cause pregnancy-related death. For example, talk to your provider about vaccinations like the flu shot that can help protect you from certain diseases.
Use a condom to protect yourself from STIs. And if you have a cat, ask someone else to change the litter box. If you are not receiving the care you deserve, find a new provider. After pregnancy Tell your provider right away if you have you have any of the following signs or symptoms: Chest pain Dizziness Fever and chills temperature of What causes pregnancy-related death? The leading causes can be different depending on timing: During and after pregnancy: Heart conditions and stroke cause more than 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths.
During birth: Emergencies, such as heavy bleeding and amniotic fluid embolism, cause the most deaths during birth. The week after giving birth: Heavy bleeding, high blood pressure and infection cause the most deaths in the week after giving birth. One week after birth to 1 year after birth: Cardiomyopathy weakened heart muscle causes the most deaths during this time.
Getting early treatment for conditions that can cause complications during and after pregnancy may help prevent death. If you have signs or symptoms of any of the following health conditions, tell your health care provider right away. Heart and blood vessel conditions Cardiomyopathy. Signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy include: Swelling in your legs Fatigue being really tired Chest pressure or having a pounding, fast or fluttering heartbeat Fainting or feeling out of breath, dizzy or lightheaded Heart disease also called cardiovascular disease.
Common signs and symptoms of heart disease include: Chest pain, discomfort or tightness Dizziness or fainting Extreme tiredness Nausea feeling sick to your stomach Really fast or really slow heartbeat Shortness of breath Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet Preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Signs and symptoms of a stroke come on suddenly and can include: Numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs Feeling confused Having trouble talking and understanding what other people are saying Having trouble seeing or walking Feeling dizzy Having a severe headache Thrombotic pulmonary embolism. Tell your provider if you have any of the following signs or symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain and cough Having a fever Feeling dizzy or lightheaded Leg pain or swelling Having a fast heart rate Sweating or having clammy skin or skin that has a bluish color Hemorrhage also called heavy bleeding Causes of hemorrhage that can lead to pregnancy-related death include: Problems with the placenta , including placental abruption , placenta previa and placenta accreta, increta and percreta.
The placenta grows in the uterus and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. Placental abruption is when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth. Placenta previa is when the placenta lies low in the uterus and covers all or part of the cervix.
The cervix is the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina. Placenta accreta, increta, and percreta happen when the placenta grows too deeply into the wall or muscles of the uterus, or grows through the uterus.
If you have bleeding during pregnancy , tell your health care provider right away. If the bleeding is severe, go to the hospital. Uterine rupture. This is when the uterus tears during labor. Signs and symptoms of a rupture include pain, bleeding, long labor and problems with the baby called fetal distress , like having a slow heart rate during labor.
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy. This is when an ectopic pregnancy breaks open. An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus and begins to grow. An ectopic pregnancy always ends in pregnancy loss. It can cause serious problems. Most of the time, ectopic pregnancies are removed by surgery.
Signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include: vaginal bleeding; pain in the shoulder, lower back or pelvic area the part of the body between the stomach and legs ; and feeling dizzy or faint. Retained products of conception. This is tissue from the placenta or from the baby that stays in the uterus after a pregnancy ends. Signs and symptoms include fever, bleeding, pelvic pain and tenderness of the uterus.
Uterine atony. Normally, contractions help stop the bleeding after the placenta separates from the uterus. Signs and symptoms of uterine atony include heavy bleeding and not having contractions after giving birth. Infections that can cause pregnancy-related death include: Chorioamnionitis. This is an infection of the amniotic fluid and tissue that surround a baby in the womb. Flu also called influenza. The flu is a serious disease that can cause fever, chills, cough, sore throat and body aches.
It protects you and your baby from serious health problems during and after pregnancy. Genital tract infections. For example, the obstetric hemorrhage bundle requires hospitals to have emergency carts containing drugs and equipment needed to immediately respond to a mother who is hemorrhaging. A checklist on the cart describes how to recognize and manage hemorrhage.
Making childbirth safer in hospitals may be less daunting than remedying a lack of prenatal care or unraveling the causes of postpartum deaths. Another problem: Mothers will bring their newborns for a well-baby visit, but many skip their own postpartum 6-week visit where depression and other potential life-threatening problems may be diagnosed.
To institute a plan at the University of Texas Medical Branch combining mother and baby visits at 2 weeks postpartum. Eliminating the racial disparity gap in maternal deaths is proving to be the biggest challenge of all. Main says that black women continue to die in childbirth at rates 3 to 4 times higher than white women regardless of underlying risk factors such as obesity and hypertension. Despite the recent negative press about the US maternal mortality crisis, some experts express optimism.
We need to stay laser-focused on that progress and give women the care they deserve. Slomski A. Coronavirus Resource Center. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue. Save Preferences. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Twitter Facebook. This Issue.
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