Maternal Health Awareness Day was established to raise awareness of maternal health, safety, and mortality issues. The number of women who die during pregnancy has continued to rise, despite recent advances in medicine. The Centers for Disease Control reported 16 pregnancy-related maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births nationwide in 2012, up significantly from a low of 7.2 in 1987. In New Jersey from 2006 to 2008, the average mortality rate was 14.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 births.
The most common yet preventable causes of death after delivery includes obstetric bleeding, severe hypertension, blood clots, infection, and cardiac disease. During this time, mothers also are at risk for postpartum depression. Even healthy women who give birth are at risk for these complications.
As health care providers, it is important that we inform and empower women who have delivered to speak up should they not feel well or are experiencing pain or discomfort after delivery. The health team is then able to mitigate potentially deadly conditions.
With more than 2000 births per year, Cooper’s Labor and Delivery team is focused on the health of mothers, infants, and the well-being of the entire family.