WHAT IS MATERNAL HEALTH?
Care doesn't end at delivery. The riskiest window often comes after the baby is already home.
Maternal health covers the full arc of pregnancy: preconception planning, prenatal monitoring, safe labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery — physical and mental. The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, and North Carolina reflects that same national challenge.
A large share of pregnancy-related deaths happen well after a family has left the hospital — a period too often treated as an afterthought in care.
WHY IT MATTERS
The state of maternal health.
North Carolina mirrors a national pattern of high, largely preventable maternal risk.
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26.7
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in North Carolina, with a severe maternal morbidity rate of 84.9 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations.
84%
of pregnancy-related deaths nationally are estimated to be preventable, according to CDC maternal mortality review data.
53%
of pregnancy-related deaths occur between one week and one year after delivery — long after most postpartum checkups end.
WHEN RISK HAPPENS
Risk doesn't end at delivery.
Pregnancy-related health risks can change throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Understanding these changes helps families and care teams recognize warning signs early and ensure support continues across the entire maternal journey.
01
During
pregnancy
Heart disease and stroke can become serious concerns during pregnancy and may go unrecognized without appropriate monitoring, awareness, and timely care.
Cardiovascular conditions lead
02
At
delivery
Hemorrhage, amniotic fluid embolism, and other obstetric emergencies can develop rapidly during or immediately after delivery, requiring prompt medical attention.
Birth-Related Emergencies
03
Postpartum
(1 wk – 1 yr)
The weeks and months following delivery remain an important period for maternal health. Mental health conditions, cardiomyopathy, and other complications may emerge after routine maternity care decreases.
Health Beyond Birth
KNOW THE SIGNS
What warning signs look like.
The CDC's Hear Her campaign highlights symptoms that can seem minor but may signal a serious complication — during pregnancy or up to a year after.
Severe headache
Especially one that won't go away or doesn't respond to usual relief.
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Sudden swelling
In the face, hands, or legs — beyond typical pregnancy changes.
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Chest pain or dizziness
Trouble breathing, chest pain, or a racing heartbeat should never be brushed off.
​
Exhaustion
Or persistent sadness, anxiety, or thoughts of harming yourself — mental health symptoms count too.
GO DEEPER
Related pages.
BOMaternal health connects directly to these parts of our work.
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