In 2015 the government pledged to halve the number of incidents involving mothers dying during a pregnancy or in the weeks after giving birth by 2030. In 2015 the target was brought forward to 2025.
According to the report published by MBBRACE-UK in September 2026, this target is not only not going to be achieved, but it revealed that the number of women dying has increased by 20% in the period 2022-2024 compared to during 2009 – 2011 with 252 families losing a mother.
What causes a mother’s death during or soon after a baby’s birth?
The annual publication MBBRACE highlighted that between 2022-24 blood clots were the leading cause of a mother’s death during pregnancy and the first six weeks after a baby’s birth. Heart disease was the second most common cause, followed by mental health issues.
The top six causes of the death of a mother according to the report are:
- Blood clots
- Heart disease
- Mental health issues
- Epilepsy and stroke
- Infection
- Other physical condition
For some families, the death could have been prevented with early detection and timely and appropriate medical treatment.
When a mother and baby are carefully monitored, early symptoms of a potential medical emergency should be recognised and responded to with the correct intervention.
Some maternal deaths may have been avoided with better maternity care although for some, the circumstances may have been entirely unavoidable.
Some of the key elements of patient care that could potentially save lives include:
- recognising a deterioration in a mother’s health early
- conducting and repeating risk assessments to identify red flags
- listening and acting on a mother’s concerns that something is wrong
- providing timely specialist care from the right medical professional
- sharing vital information between maternity, primary care, emergency, and mental health services
- following national clinical guidelines put in place to save lives
- providing safe staffing numbers and escalation procedures ensuring that patients receive the right care delivered by the correct medical expert
- making accessible, culturally appropriate care available
Pregnancy and postnatal warning signs that should prompt a medical response
It is important for women and their medical team to be aware of concerning symptoms, particularly if they are unusual, persistent, or severe, with further investigations carried out.
These may prove to be harmless or could be the early red flags of a more serious condition or potential fatality.
The signs that something may be seriously wrong may include:
- unusual vaginal bleeding or bleeding that becomes heavier
- a severe or persistent headache
- blurred vision, flashing lights or seeing spots
- sudden swelling in the face, hands, feet, or legs
- pain or swelling in one leg
- sharp, severe, or continuing abdominal pain
- persistent vomiting or an inability to keep fluids down
- a high temperature, feeling cold or acutely unwell
- leaking fluid during a pregnancy
- pain when going to the toilet
- severe itching, particularly on the hands or feet
- reduced or changed baby movements
- worsening pain or unusual-smelling bleeding after a baby is delivered
- rapidly worsening anxiety, depression, confusion, agitation, or unusual beliefs
Detecting worrying signs that something might be wrong in a timely manner, and responding with the correct patient care quickly, could potentially save a life.
Maternal health inequalities put some women at greater risk
Maternal mortality does not affect all women equally according to repeated reports. In England women from Black ethnic backgrounds faced nearly three times the risk of maternal death compared to White women during 2022-24. Asian women were 1.3 times at a greater risk of suffering serious harm.
A range of factors may be the cause of the stark inequalities in safe maternity care:
- mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds may not have equal access to maternity care
- racism may be an issue at their hospital
- communication barriers may exist and mean that vital and timely information is not shared amongst medical staff
- socioeconomic disadvantages may play a key role
- differences in a mother’s underlying health
- a hospital’s failure to recognise or escalate concerns
How a mother can advocate for herself during maternity care
A hospital is responsible for delivering safe patient care to mothers and babies in their maternity departments.
Families, however, should be listened to and taken seriously if health concerns are raised. The extension of Martha’s Rule into maternity services also means that families now have a right to a second medical opinion if they believe that their concerns are not being responded to correctly.
Clear and transparent information should be provided by a hospital. For the best outcomes, a family should also:
- Describe what has changed. Explain when the symptom(s) started, whether it is getting worse or more frequent and how it is unusual
- Communicate any pregnancy related information clearly, this could include previous pregnancies or complications
- Share key medical history. This may include blood clots, heart disease, high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, or previous mental health problems. This gives a hospital easy access to information that may prove critical
- Ask for a clear outline of what happens next. Request a clear explanation of how a hospital will follow up on these symptoms and any further warning signs that should be reported to them
- Escalate persistent concerns. Symptoms can change after an earlier assessment, and these changes should be communicated with medical staff
- Bring support where possible. A partner, relative or friend can help describe any significant worrying changes, can take notes, and repeat concerns
Preventing maternal deaths requires action beyond the individual
Reducing the number of preventable maternal deaths in England and Wales requires safer systems, not simply better-informed patients. Hospitals should prioritise consistent risk assessment, rapid access to specialist care, properly staffed services, effective maternity triage, and robust support for families throughout the postnatal year.
For the families for whom it is sadly too late, and where medical negligence is suspected as the cause of a mother’s death, our birth injury experts are here to obtain answers and justice.