01/24/2026
Yesterday was Maternal Health Awareness Day. I couldn’t help but to reflect on my own personal experience.
I was pregnant with my third child at the time, and I should start by saying both my husband and I are both pediatricians. I was of advanced maternal age then and thus being closely monitored during pregnancy. My OBs during pregnancy were great. However, at 41 weeks, my water broke without contractions, which was a first for me. The OB on call was one whom I met many times before during my pregnancy. I felt very reassured.
We went to the hospital, anticipating a somewhat routine delivery. I receive Pitocin initially to kickstart labor. However, at higher concentrations, it became increasingly difficult to keep up with my breathing.
By the time I was appropriately dilated I requested an epidural. There was also a shift change and the OB that was now on board was someone who I’d never met before. His demeanor was short, and I could tell he was not thrilled to be on call that day. If I could go back in time, I would’ve requested another provider.
Anesthesia was delayed getting to me due to him being the only anesthesiologist on for that day in a very busy hospital that  delivers more than 300 babies a month.
Once anesthesiology arrived, things escalated. Instead of a test dose I was started on the infusion, immediately. However, the epidural was placed too high. I quickly felt dizzy had difficulty breathing lost my gag reflex, began drooling, sneezing and coughing. Feeling dizzy I slurred my words to ask for the infusion to be stopped. My husband hearing me repeated my request. It was too late. I felt my body go limp and lost consciousness. I became a code mama.
I don’t know how long I was out, but I gradually awakened with a mask over my face and disoriented. The OB who I never met before this day was arguing with my husband. The anesthesiologist refusing to believe there was an error in placement stormed off. The OB screamed at the nurse to increase the Pitocin to “get the baby out“. As he began to drop his heart rate. I was told I could have no pain medication, “you look like you’re doing fine“. It was chaos.
I looked to my husband and told him, “please choose our son over me and I love you.“ I didn’t think I was going to make it. I was refused a c-section because of concerns with applying anesthesia for surgery.
I have never had any complications with epidurals in past deliveries. I’ve never had complications with anesthesia since despite other surgeries.
I am a lucky one -despite being not seen and not heard that day. Despite being knowledgeable as it pertains to medicine and protocols . I am here with my son and our family is intact. I lived to tell the story. That was 10 years ago.  It is still traumatic to me. The medicine I practiced on behalf of my patients for the last 20 years was not the medicine I received as a patient on that day.
According to the CDC over 80% of maternal death during after pregnancy are preventable. This is a staggering reality. Eight out of 10 deaths.
The U.S. maternal mortality rate in 2023 was around 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, a decrease from 22.3 in 2022, with provisional 2024 data showing it steady around 17.9. Which means nothing has really changed.
These remain significantly higher than other high-income countries, especially for Black women, with fetal mortality rates around 5.4 per 1,000 births, showing persistent disparities.
The American Heart Association notes that the majority of maternal deaths within the first year of delivery are due to cardiovascular events.
International Comparison: The U.S. maternal mortality rate is among the highest in high-income nations, with rates often double or triple those of countries like Canada, Germany, and Japan.
Fetal Mortality: The fetal mortality rate (stillbirths after 20 weeks) was about 5.73 per 1,000 births in 2021 and slightly lower (5.41) provisionally for 2024, but disparities also exist here, with higher rates for Black, AIAN, and NHPI women.
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