HEALTHIER YOU: What you can do about Black maternal mortality

BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN

Each year in the United States, hundreds of people die during pregnancy or in the year after. Thousands more have unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery with serious short-or long-term health consequences. 

Every pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially because more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable. Recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths. 

Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare and underlying chronic conditions. Social determinants of health prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health. 

Pregnant women and their families can: 

• Talk to a healthcare provider if anything doesn’t feel right or is concerning. 
• Know and seek immediate care if experiencing any of the urgent maternal warning signs, including severe headache, extreme swelling of hands or face, trouble breathing, heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge, overwhelming tiredness, and more. These symptoms could indicate a potentially life-threatening complication. 
• Share recent pregnancy history during each medical care visit for up to one year after delivery. 
• Connect with healthcare and social support systems before, during, and after pregnancy. 

As it relates to healthcare providers they can: 

• Ask questions to better understand their patient and things that may be affecting their lives. 
• Help patients, and those accompanying them, understand the urgent maternal warning signs and when to seek medical attention right away. 
• Help patients manage chronic conditions or conditions that may arise during pregnancy like hypertension, diabetes, or depression. 
• Respond to any concerns patients may have. 
• Provide all patients with respectful quality care. 
• Hospitals and healthcare systems can 
• Standardize coordination of care and response to emergencies. 

All women should have regular healthcare checkups, and it is especially important during pregnancy. Make your appointment today by calling Innovative Women’s Care at (702) 413-7740 or visit us at 851 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 165 in Las Vegas.