Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Awareness

The Charles County Department of Health Maternal Child Health program serves the community by educating women on the ways to prevent pregnancy-related deaths.

Maternal Morbidity and Mortality: What Do We Know? How Are We Addressing It?

Preventing Pregnancy-Related Deaths

A death during or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy is a tragedy for a family, a community, and for society. This is especially true since most of these deaths are preventable.

Health care providers can help patients prepare for pregnancy and for potential problems during pregnancy.

What is a pregnancy-related death?

A pregnancy-related death is defined as a death during pregnancy or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy. The death may happen because:

The pregnancy causes a new medical (including mental) health problem.
The pregnancy starts a chain of events that lead to death.
The pregnancy makes an unrelated condition worse.

What factors contribute to pregnancy-related deaths?

Social factors are nonmedical conditions where people live, work, and play that can affect their health. Factors like income and access to high-quality care, for example, can affect a person’s ability to manage conditions that increase maternal risk, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Starting prenatal care early, seeing a health care provider throughout the pregnancy, and being sure to attend postpartum visits can help to prevent and treat severe pregnancy-related complications.

Signs and Symptoms of Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs

Be aware of urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms during pregnancy and in the year after delivery.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience any signs or symptoms that are listed below.
The symptoms below can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.