The thought likely goes through every pregnant woman's mind at some point or another: "What if I die while giving birth?" Intrusive thoughts are common during pregnancy, so that's to be somewhat expected. But how much do you really need to worry? What are the chances of dying while giving birth?
What are some causes of maternal mortality?
How are doctors trying to reduce the risk of childbirth mortality?
Over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable, which means there's much work to be done to reduce the risk of childbirth mortality. First among these, according to Dr. Gary Hankins, the University of Texas OBGYN Chairman, is to eliminate the racial disparities that exist in the Black community,
“The narrative is that Black women don’t get prenatal care, which isn’t true and it blames the mother. Black women have a very different birthing experience than white women due to a lack of trust in the medical system and how they are treated," Hankins told scientific journal JAMA. "People don’t like to hear the ‘r-word, but it’s real if you’re Black. This is a hard one to solve, but it’s a journey we have to face."
A medical facility with plans in place to treat high blood pressure, sepsis, and hemorrhage, can greatly reduce the chance of dying during childbirth. Medical services have improved over the years, including specialized care for those experiencing high-risk pregnancies, readily available blood for transfusions, and accessible antibiotics to treat infections.
For those concerned about their chances of dying while giving birth, there's reason to remain optimistic. Prenatal visits are key in diagnosing problems early. The sooner your physician is aware of a potential issue, the greater the chances are of the issue being treated successfully.
