Maternal Health Awareness Day is January 23, making the month of January a great time to focus on maternal health and preventing pregnancy-related deaths, which are deaths that occur during pregnancy or within one year after pregnancy as a consequence of pregnancy.

Every maternal death is a tragedy, made even more so because most of these deaths could have been prevented. In 2023, more than 700 women worldwide died each day from preventable causes resulting from pregnancy and birth. Although most maternal deaths occur in lower-middle-income countries, the United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income countries. More than 80 percent of these deaths in the US are preventable.

When gestational diabetes is not well-controlled, however, it can lead to potentially serious complications. For example, a baby may become too large, making a cesarean birth necessary. Mothers with gestational diabetes are also at increased risk for developing placental abruption (the separation of the placenta from the uterus), which can threaten the lives of both mother and baby. In addition, women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk for high blood pressure and its associated health conditions, which also can endanger the lives of mother and baby.

Our Understanding Gestational Diabetes Tear Pad is an ideal English/Spanish handout for expectant parents. It explains what gestational diabetes is, the associated health risks for both mother and baby, and why working with a healthcare professional is essential to keep gestational diabetes under control to avoid potentially serious health complications.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure during pregnancy can endanger the health of mothers and their babies. Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur in the mother after 20 weeks of pregnancy or soon after giving birth. Preeclampsia includes high blood pressure and can lead to organ damage in the mother, such as damage to the heart, brain, kidney, liver, and other organs. If preeclampsia progresses to eclampsia, the mother also develops seizures. Preeclampsia can also lead to a placental abruption, which puts the health of mother and baby at risk. When preeclampsia is severe, a cesarean birth may be necessary.

Our two-sided High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Tear Pad provides essential information to patients and clients about the risk factors and signs of preeclampsia and why it is essential to work with a healthcare professional to monitor and control blood pressure throughout pregnancy.

Behavioral health issues, such as the use of tobacco and recreational drugs, are important factors that can impact maternal mortality. For example, smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for potentially life-threatening conditions in the mother, such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, and placenta previa, a condition occurring when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix that may make a cesarean birth necessary. Illegal drug use can also increase the risk of problems with the placenta, such as placental abruption and placenta previa.

Recently updated, our Hazards During Pregnancy Folding Display highlights the risks of multiple hazards during pregnancy, including smoking, vaping, and using illegal drugs. It also provides warning signs for when to seek emergency care during pregnancy and gives tips for staying healthy throughout pregnancy, including the importance of regular prenatal care.

Mental health conditions, such as perinatal depression (including postpartum depression), are also an underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Perinatal depression is occurrence of a depressive disorder in a mother during pregnancy or in the 12 months following her baby’s delivery. Sadly, suicide is a leading cause of death during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The good news is that perinatal depression can be effectively treated. Treatment methods may include counseling, support groups, and medication.

English on one side and Spanish on the other, our Understanding Postpartum Depression Tear Pad is an informative handout for new parents. It covers what postpartum depression is, how it differs from the “baby blues,” and postpartum depression’s potential causes, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment. Emphasizing the primary importance of getting treatment for postpartum depression, the tear pad explains that postpartum depression can be treated successfully.