The Quick Version
- Learn the urgent maternal warning signs and speak up fast. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
- Most states now extend Medicaid coverage to a full year after birth, not just 60 days. Check your state.
- Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related cause, so trust your body and be persistent.
- Risk does not end at delivery. Many serious complications happen in the weeks and months after you give birth.
Having a baby should be one of the safest experiences in modern medicine. For too many Black women, it is not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. The most important fact behind that number: the CDC estimates more than 80 percent of these deaths are preventable.
Preventable means information and action save lives. Here is what to know and do.
The warning signs that mean call now
Through its Hear Her campaign, the CDC urges pregnant and postpartum women to treat certain symptoms as emergencies. Do not wait, do not talk yourself out of it, and do not let anyone brush you off. Get care right away if you have:
- A headache that will not go away or gets worse.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Changes in your vision.
- Trouble breathing or chest pain or a racing heart.
- Severe swelling in your hands or face.
- Heavy vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking.
- Extreme swelling, redness, or pain in your leg.
- Overwhelming tiredness that does not feel normal.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
Say the words clearly: I am worried something is wrong. If you have given birth in the last year, tell any provider you see that you were recently pregnant, because that changes how your symptoms should be read.
Why risk continues after delivery
Many people assume the danger ends once the baby arrives. It does not. A large share of pregnancy-related deaths happen in the weeks and months after birth, from causes like high blood pressure, blood clots, infection, heart problems, and mental health crises. That is why continuous health coverage during the first postpartum year is so important.
Postpartum Medicaid now lasts a full year in most states
For years, pregnancy-related Medicaid ended just 60 days after birth, cutting off coverage right when complications can appear. That has changed. Nearly every state and Washington, D.C. have adopted the option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to a full 12 months.
If you are pregnant or recently gave birth and had Medicaid, do not assume your coverage stopped. Call your state Medicaid office or a local health center and ask whether you qualify for the 12-month extension. Keeping that coverage means you can address blood pressure, mental health, and other issues before they turn dangerous.
Build your support and your voice
- Consider a doula. Studies link doula support to better outcomes, and a growing number of Medicaid programs now help cover the cost.
- Bring an advocate. A partner, relative, or friend who can speak up and take notes helps when you are exhausted or in pain.
- Write your history down. A short list of your conditions, medications, and concerns keeps every provider on the same page.
- Schedule postpartum visits early. Do not wait weeks for that first check-in, especially if something feels off.
Black Maternal Health Week each April keeps a national spotlight on this crisis, but the work is year-round, and it is personal. Being informed and insistent is not being difficult. It is protecting your life and your baby’s.
Find more family and wellness coverage in our Health, Wellness and Community Care section, and explore the warning signs in detail at the CDC Hear Her campaign.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Contact a licensed clinician or call 911 for any medical emergency.