OB/GYN
Maternal Health
The Black maternal mortality crisis, dismissed pain, and preeclampsia.
Last updated April 15, 2026
Who is most affected
- Black women in pregnancy and the postpartum period
- Indigenous women (similarly elevated mortality)
- Women veterans receiving care across both VA and community OB systems
- Mothers reporting pain or symptoms that are dismissed as 'normal'
Key disparities
- Black women are roughly 3× more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women
- Pain reports during labor and postpartum are systematically minimized
- Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome are caught later, with worse outcomes
- Postpartum follow-up is shorter and less consistent
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What the mortality numbers actually look like
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Recognizing preeclampsia and pushing for the workup
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What you can ask at your next appointment
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