Maternal Warning Signs & Symptoms

Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are higher than in many other developed countries, and social factors may contribute to this difference. In Hawaiʻi, approximately 10 to 12 women across the state die each year because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications. More than half of those deaths were deemed preventable. However, maternal morbidity and mortality do not affect all mothers equally.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes, positive pregnancy outcomes define healthy pregnancies that begin with planning before, during, and after the baby arrives. Early initiation of prenatal care by pregnant women and continuous monitoring of pregnancy by health providers are important in helping to prevent and treat severe pregnancy-related complications.

Click below for support and resources:

Find a Community
Health Center
Apply for
Med-QUEST
Connect with Healthy
Mothers Healthy Babies

Preventing pregnancy-related deaths requires a multilevel approach that includes ensuring quality care for all pregnant and postpartum persons. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women experience maternal deaths at a higher rate even though they make up a smaller proportion of women in the state, showing the persistent ethnic disparities. Moreover, combined data from the MMRIA system (Maternal Mortality Review Information Application-CDC) show that mental health disorders and substance use played an important role in maternal mortality in Hawaiʻi.

The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted that from 2018 to 2021 the maternal death rate in the U.S. increased from 17.4 to 32.9 per 100,000 live births. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaska Native persons have the highest rates of pregnancy-related deaths. Approximately 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

Warning-Signs-Poster-LTR-EnglishDownload

Learn more about maternal warning signs and symptoms from the CDC’s Hear Her campaign.