New report shows maternal mortality rates have declined

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Maternal mortality rates successful the U.S. are down, according to numbers from the CDC.

"I deliberation it gives america vigor to support moving guardant with each the projects that we've been doing implicit the past fewer years to truly code this superior issue," said Dr. Christina Hiebert, the Birthing Center Chief with Kaiser Permanente Fresno.

Data from the caller study showed that, successful 2024, 649 women successful the U.S. died of maternal causes. That's compared to 2023, which saw 669 pregnancy-related deaths.

Dr. Hiebert says portion the numbers are backmost to pre-pandemic levels, much inactive needs to beryllium done.

"Our numbers are inactive not matching the goals that we have," said Dr. Hiebert. "Unfortunately, successful the developed world, we are inactive ranking astatine 1 of the highest maternal decease rates successful the world."

Data besides revealed that African American women had higher maternal mortality rates compared to achromatic women. Dr. Hiebert says that improving entree to attraction and acquisition is simply a mode to support numbers low.

"There are galore barriers that tin forestall idiosyncratic from accessing wellness care," said Dr. Hiebert. "Some of them are personal, similar work, transportation, and kid care. The wellness attraction strategy besides has a relation to play. There are constricted hours of cognition successful which we connection wellness attraction services."

Dr. Hierbert explains that wellness conditions specified arsenic diabetes, precocious humor unit and bosom illness summation the hazard for maternal deaths.

"One of the main soundless killers successful gestation is hypertension," said Dr. Hiebert. "Most women who person precocious humor unit ne'er person immoderate symptoms, don't cognize that they're having it, but it's having an interaction connected their humor vessels and their heart."

Pregnancy takes a toll connected the body. Federal wellness leaders accidental much than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. That's wherefore doctors accidental prenatal attraction is critical.

"You're getting your humor unit monitored, your bosom complaint monitored," said Dr. Hiebert.

Doctors accidental it's important for women to perceive to their bodies and support accordant connection with their healthcare provider.

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