Rising Mortality Rates in Childbirth: A concern as more American women are dying during childbirth today than in 1990

Rising Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.: An Unwelcome Resurgence

The focus on health during pregnancy has become a crucial step for women in the United States, as the exact cause of the rising maternal mortality rate remains unclear. Over the last two decades, the U.S. has seen an uptick in maternal deaths, with the rate rising from 12.4 deaths per 100,000 births in 1990 to more than 18 in 2013.

Contrary to popular belief, the real issue in the U.S. is not emergency complications during childbirth, but rather the impact of existing medical conditions on pregnancy outcomes. With growing rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, women experience more complications during pregnancy in the U.S.

Experts suggest that maintaining good health is a key strategy for reducing the risk of maternal mortality. By focusing on health, women in the U.S. can potentially mitigate the effects of conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity on pregnancy outcomes. This proactive measure is a response to the concerning trend in maternal mortality rates in the U.S. compared to other developed countries.

The emphasis on health during pregnancy is a recommendation by experts and underscores the need for proactive measures in addressing the rising maternal mortality rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been at the forefront of researching the causes of the rise in maternal mortality during childbirth in the U.S. and seeking solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.

It's worth noting that having children later in life is not a significant factor contributing to the rise in maternal mortality rate in the U.S. In contrast, the U.K.'s rate fell from 10.4 to 6.1 deaths, Australia’s went from 7 to 4.8, France’s lowered from 15.6 to 8.8, and Spain’s dropped from 12.3 to 6.2 during the same time frame.

The call for women to focus on their health during pregnancy underscores the need for a collective effort to address the rising maternal mortality rate in the U.S. Despite being a leading country in medicine, the U.S. has a concerning trend in maternal mortality rate compared to other developed countries. Focusing on health during pregnancy is a recommended approach to address this issue and improve maternal health outcomes in the U.S.