Moving Medicine Addressing the maternal health crisis, Part I
May 13, 2025
This discussion features Jennifer Brown, JD, an expert in health equity, Dr. Michael Rakotz, MD, focusing on hypertensive disorders, and Dr. Maryanne C. Bombaugh, MD, specializing in perinatal mental health. They tackle the alarming rise in maternal mortality, particularly among Black and Indigenous women. Key topics include prevention strategies for pregnancy-related deaths, the integration of behavioral health in obstetrics, and the significant role of social determinants. Their insights highlight the urgent need for systemic changes and policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
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U.S. Maternal Mortality Is Alarming
- The U.S. has higher maternal mortality now than in the 1990s despite medical advances.
- Black and Indigenous women face substantially higher pregnancy-related death rates driven by systemic disparities.
Personal Near-Death Pregnancy Story
- Jennifer Brown described her near-death uterine rupture during her second pregnancy.
- She was seven hours from bleeding to death and uses this experience to drive advocacy.
Hypertension Drives Long-Term Risk
- Hypertensive disorders occur in nearly one in seven deliveries and are increasing.
- These disorders drive early postpartum deaths and long-term cardiovascular risk, shortening lifespans.