Maternal Mortality – Meaning and Major Contributing Factors Explained
“A baby is like the beginning of all things: wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. In a world that is cutting down its trees to build highways, losing its earth to concrete, babies are almost the only remaining link in nature, with the natural world of living things from which we spring.” – Eda J. Leshan
When you are about to have your first baby in your arms and life forever, it’s common to feel both excited and nervous at the same time. This is a beautiful side of the pregnancy stage. But then you can’t forget the other side. If you have been through some developing or underlying health issues during pregnancy, it’s common to be worried about your life and baby’s safety at its best.
The most common fear types revolve around the strong dose of anesthesia, complications in childbirth, birth injuries, infection, and the worst is maternal mortality. Let’s take a deep dive into this concept.
What is maternal mortality?
When the expecting mother dies in the process of delivering the baby, it is referred to as maternal mortality or maternal death. The death of a new mother after 42 days of delivering a child or in the post-pregnancy termination stage is also considered maternal death.
As per CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), around 700+ women die a year due to different pregnancy complications in the United States. This highlights the importance of considering the pregnancy stage as a sensitive one.
What are the most common factors leading to maternal death?
1 – Not skilled resources available – Many women face the chances of maternal death due to medical negligence. It’s common when no experienced practitioner, midwives, or nurses are available in the delivery room. Such cases are obvious to lead to medical malpractice lawsuits. As per a medical malpractice lawyer at Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, one should set up a consultation to understand the further process. Basically, this is to get the deserving claim.
2 – The age factor – Women in their twenties are considered to have fewer complications than when they are older. This happens due to additional health issues and weakening body structure. Thus, if you are expecting in your thirties, prefer being conscious about your health extra-ordinarily.
3 – Parity – It is the number of times a woman has conceived. A higher parity rate can add to many complications when delivering the baby. This risk is higher, especially when the woman is about to deliver her first baby.
4 – Blood pressure – Blood pressure fluctuation during pregnancy can stress the mother and baby. It puts pressure on the kidneys and the mother’s heart rate. If not controlled in time, it can lead to stroke, kidney and heart diseases, making it difficult to deliver the baby.
The last line –
Maternal deaths are turning out to be one of the biggest fears in the current times. There are many contributing factors like – increased blood pressure, medical negligence, age, etc. Fortunately, all of these can be negated by following a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Including – consuming a healthy diet, doing mild exercises, etc.
