Concerning California’s rising maternal death rate, health officials and medical professionals want to propose an updated plan to maintain the physical well-being of new mothers both before and after giving birth.
The current goalpost to reduce pregnancy-related fatalities by 50% sits firmly in 2026. From 2019 to 2021, over 200 soon-to-be mothers in California passed away during their pregnancy terms. Moreover, not all of these lives lost occurred upon their day of labor; many of the pregnancies resulted in death a year following the birth of their child.
Although California’s mortality rate is one of the lowest throughout the country, medical experts still find the number of deaths to exceed the expectations for the state unusually. Noting some of the estimates and findings from health professionals, around 80% of these maternal deaths shouldn’t be difficult to avoid. California Surgeon General Dr. Diana E. Ramos maps out ways to prevent these tragic losses.
Pushing for a campaign to educate healthcare providers and their patients, Dr. Ramos wants potential mothers to actively participate in bettering their health. Her campaign focuses on raising awareness surrounding the most common causes of pregnancy-related deaths. She additionally highlights the importance of being able to identify all the possible medical dangers well before falling pregnant.
Within Dr. Ramos’ new pregnancy protocol, she hopes to include an at-home questionnaire accessible to all preparing mothers. This questionnaire could support parents expecting their first child in their risk assessment surrounding pregnancy complications. It will supplementally offer them opportunities to self-screen for commonplace pregnancy threats such as premature deliveries and preeclampsia.
To say nothing of these well-known risks, the more significant part of maternal deaths in California are the result of hemorrhages, heart disease, sepsis, and many other infections, as the state’s data displays. Healthcare providers also record suggestions around the universal adoption tool, the Obstetric Morbidity Index. This tool, often utilized in various places outside the United States (US), was designed to guide the comprehension of maternal risks at every pregnancy stage.
Recently, Dr. Ramos launched “Strong Start and Beyond” in San Francisco as her campaign to offer educational insights on the dangers of pregnancy. First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the US. Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra accompanied the doctor to support her project’s first major public proposal.
California’s desire to improve its maternal death rates persists as a result of the many delivery and labor ward closures around the state. Over 50 facilities shut down within the previous decade, causing statewide maternity care deserts. Expecting parents should also note that a similar pattern of ward closures is sweeping the nation.
Among Dr. Ramos’ findings, there are a few other causes worth mentioning about maternal mortality. Chronic illnesses have become a leading influence in pregnancy-related deaths. Research from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) showcases that around one-quarter of all maternal passings could be attributed to heart disease before COVID-19 hit the US.
Dr. Ramos believes that managing chronic illness during pregnancy involves mitigating high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity, as the three conditions are directly connected to heart disease. On the other hand, the CDPH reported that Black mothers, in particular, are disproportionately affected by pregnancy complications. Upon delivery of their children, five Black patients received a hypertension diagnosis, and one in every four Black mothers endured intense symptoms of depression while pregnant.
As California health professionals work to reduce the maternal death rate, they take into account their findings of which societal groups get hit the hardest by the growing dangers of pregnancy. With hopes of providing high-quality government-funded insurance to expecting parents throughout the state, healthcare experts understand the necessity for change in their medical best practices.
