{"id":668,"date":"2025-10-29T05:35:38","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T05:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/?p=668"},"modified":"2026-03-21T13:05:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:05:55","slug":"black-maternal-mortality-what-every-mother-to-be-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/black-maternal-mortality-what-every-mother-to-be-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Maternal Mortality: What Every Mother-to-Be Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Points:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is maternal mortality &amp; how is it measured?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why are Black women disproportionately affected?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warning signs you should know (when to act)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Important Safety Information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is maternal mortality &amp; how is it measured?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A late maternal death is &ldquo;the death of a woman from direct or indirect obstetric causes, more than 42 days but less than one year after termination of pregnancy.&rdquo; Like maternal deaths, late maternal deaths also include both direct and indirect maternal\/obstetric deaths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Complications of pregnancy or childbirth can lead to death beyond the six-week (42-day) postpartum period, and the increased availability of modern life-sustaining procedures and technologies enables more women to survive adverse outcomes of pregnancy and delivery and also delays some deaths beyond the 42 days that postpartum period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specific codes for &ldquo;late maternal deaths&rdquo; are included in the ICD-10 (O96 and O97) to capture these delayed maternal deaths, which may not be categorized as maternal deaths in routine CRVS systems despite being caused by pregnancy-related events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Direct obstetric deaths (or direct maternal deaths) are those &ldquo;resulting from obstetric complications of the pregnant state (pregnancy, labour and puerperium), and from interventions, omissions, incorrect treatment, or from a chain of events resulting from any of the above&rdquo;. Deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage or hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, for example, or those due to complications of anaesthesia or caesarean section are classified as direct maternal deaths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indirect obstetric deaths (or indirect maternal deaths) are those maternal deaths &ldquo;resulting from previous existing disease or disease that developed during pregnancy and not due to direct obstetric causes but were aggravated by the physiologic effects of pregnancy&rdquo;. For example, deaths due to aggravation (by pregnancy) of an existing cardiac or renal disease are considered indirect maternal deaths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/data\/gho\/indicator-metadata-registry\/imr-details\/4622\">Maternal deaths<\/a> and late maternal deaths are combined in the 11th revision of the ICD under the new grouping of &ldquo;comprehensive maternal deaths&rdquo;. A death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (also known as a &ldquo;pregnancy-related death&rdquo;) is defined as: &ldquo;the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death (obstetric and non-obstetric)&rdquo; this definition includes unintentional\/accidental and incidental causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This definition allows measurement of deaths that occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium while acknowledging that such measurements do not strictly conform to the standard &ldquo;maternal death&rdquo; concept in settings where accurate information about causes of death based on medical certification is unavailable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, in maternal mortality surveys (such as those employing the sisterhood method), relatives of a woman of reproductive age who has died are asked about her pregnancy status at the time of death without eliciting any further information on the cause or circumstances of the death. These surveys usually measure deaths to women during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (pregnancy-related deaths) rather than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/data\/gho\/indicator-metadata-registry\/imr-details\/4622\">maternal deaths.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Why Are Black Women Disproportionately Affected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality&nbsp;due to a combination of systemic racism, implicit bias in healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and higher rates of certain chronic health conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Numerous studies show that Black women are frequently dismissed, disrespected, or ignored by healthcare providers when they express concerns about their health. This is true for women across all income and education levels and can lead to dangerous delays in treating complications like preeclampsia, hemorrhage, or blood clots. For example, studies found Black, Asian, and Indigenous women were twice as likely as White women to be ignored, refused help, or not receive a response in a reasonable time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hospitals that serve primarily Black patients tend to provide a lower quality of maternal care overall. This contributes to inequities in treatment and worse health outcomes. Also a  lack of racial and ethnic diversity among medical professionals can erode trust and inhibit effective communication, which are crucial for culturally sensitive and high-quality care.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By joining MyLurah community group, you can take advantage of the platform and improve your chances of meeting people of like mind who are ready to listen to you and offer solutions anytime.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black women experience a disproportionate burden of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which are often compounded by the long-term effects of chronic stress. These conditions increase the risk of pregnancy complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cardiovascular issues, such as cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia, are major contributors to pregnancy-related deaths among Black women. Black women are also three times more likely to experience fatal complications from new-onset hypertension during pregnancy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that even highly educated and high-income Black women face significantly higher maternal mortality rates than their White counterparts is strong evidence that socioeconomic status alone does not explain the disparity. A Black woman with a college degree is still 5.2 times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than a White woman with the same education level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Broader factors known as social and structural determinants of health, which are shaped by systemic racism, play a major role in these disparities. Historically oppressive social policies, such as redlining, have created unequal access to resources like housing, education, and health-promoting environments. The chronic stress from lifelong experiences with racism contributes to adverse health outcomes, a phenomenon known as &ldquo;weathering&rdquo;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Higher rates of poverty among Black women mean they are more likely to face financial hurdles to care, lack health insurance, and be concentrated in areas with limited access to maternity care, which are often called &ldquo;maternity care deserts&rdquo;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Warning signs you should know (when to act)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warning signs of maternal mortality are <strong>severe vaginal bleeding, convulsions or seizures, severe headaches with vision changes, severe abdominal pain, fever, fast or difficult breathing, and extreme swelling<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After childbirth, you may experience these same signs, plus&nbsp;<strong>chest pain, shortness of breath, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby<\/strong>. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"656\" class=\"wp-image-675\" style=\"width: 1500px\" src=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Warning-signs-you-should-know-about-maternal-mortality.jpg\" alt=\"Warning signs you should know about maternal mortality\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Warning-signs-you-should-know-about-maternal-mortality.jpg 740w, https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Warning-signs-you-should-know-about-maternal-mortality-300x266.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\"\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Important Safety Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mylurah is a safe space for African women to track their bodies, understand their health, and feel seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <em>&lsquo;<\/em><strong><em>&lsquo;Mylurah,&rdquo;<\/em><\/strong> your health, privacy, and safety come first. Our platform provides tools and resources to help African women track their bodies, understand hormonal changes, and recognize symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also prioritize your data security. Every piece of information you share with Mylurah is confidential and protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We encourage you to use our resources responsibly, stay aware of your body&rsquo;s signals, and never hesitate to seek medical help when something doesn&rsquo;t feel right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every Black mother&rsquo;s life matters, and no woman should lose hers while bringing life into the world. Black maternal mortality is not just a medical issue; it&rsquo;s a call for awareness, action, and justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the risks, attending antenatal appointments, speaking up when something feels wrong, and choosing supportive healthcare providers can truly save lives. We can rewrite this story to one where every Black woman not only survives pregnancy but thrives through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Also Read:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/when-period-pain-isnt-just-cramps-lets-talk-endometriosis\/\">When Period Pain Isn&rsquo;t Just Cramps&mdash;Let&rsquo;s Talk Endometriosis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/heavy-periods-in-black-women\/\">Heavy Periods in Black Women<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/period-blood-colour-what-it-means-to-your-health-especially-for-anemia-in-african-women\/\">Period Blood Colour: What it means to your health, especially for anemia in African Women<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points: What is maternal mortality &amp; how is it measured? A late maternal death is &ldquo;the death of a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[50,44],"class_list":["post-668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-black-maternal-mortality","tag-mylurah-pregnancy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=668"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":825,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668\/revisions\/825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mylurah.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}