Today, Jan. 23, is Maternal Health Awareness Day. Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has been celebrating this day on a national level since 2021. The goal behind the annual observance is to prevent maternal deaths and advance respectful, evidence-based care.

Maternal deaths are more common than you may think. According to the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the maternal mortality crisis continues to rise in the United States. In fact, the U.S. maternal mortality rate is significantly higher than other equal- or higher-income countries.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that more than 80% of deaths during and after pregnancy are preventable.

Prenatal and Postpartum Care

All women need access to high-quality healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period. Proper care from skilled health professionals can save the lives of both women and newborns.

“It is crucial that women seek early and regular prenatal care,” said Christine Powell, BSN, RN, bereavement, family education and outreach coordinator at the Aultman Birth Center. “This not only assists with early detection of any issues but also allows for consistent monitoring of the health of the mother and the growing baby.”

Care should not stop once the baby arrives. Most women who give birth recover without problems, but any new mother can have complications after giving birth. Many serious complications can be prevented when women seek early treatment for common post-birth issues.

Learning to recognize the following “POST-BIRTH” warning signs from AWHONN and knowing what to do can save your life.

P – Pain in the chest
O – Obstructed breathing or shortness of breath
S – Seizures
T – Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else
B – Bleeding: soaking through one pad/hour or passing blood clots the size of an egg or bigger
I - Incision that is not healing
R - Red or swollen leg that is painful or warm to touch
T - Temperature of 100.4 F or higher
H - Headache that does not get better, even after taking medicine, or bad headache with vision changes

If you are experiencing any of the signs listed in POST, you should call 911. For any of the issues listed in BIRTH, it is advised to call your healthcare provider or go to an emergency room.

“Mothers should always remember to trust their instincts,” Powell said. “If you are not feeling well or have any concerns, it’s important to reach out to your care provider. Be sure to let them know that you recently had a new baby.”

Mental Health

Maternal mental health is another key component for the well-being of mother and baby. Mental health issues may develop during pregnancy or after delivery. According to ACOG, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common complications that occur in pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth. One in eight people experience postpartum depression. Unfortunately, mental health disorders often remain underdiagnosed, untreated or undertreated.

That is why it is so vital that mothers who are struggling get help as soon as possible. If you are feeling sad or hopeless most of the time, have no interest in the things you used to enjoy, are not caring for yourself well, are having trouble focusing or are not managing your daily chores, you may have postpartum depression.

Postpartum anxiety signs include worrying about your baby or yourself often, feeling uneasy or anxious, being irritable or angry for no obvious reason, having unwanted or disturbing thoughts and thinking you are not a good parent.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are just not feeling mentally well, please reach out for help.

You can access support from a trusted care provider or call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is completely free and confidential. To learn more, click here to visit their website.

Sources:
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
World Health Organization