Complications in Birth Causing Death

Lifestyle Factors Affecting the Mother

• Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to face fatal complications during pregnancy and labor. Women who are in their 30s or 40s also face increased fatal complications, as do women who routinely undergo cesarean sections during birth. Race can play a role in maternal fatalities too. Black women usually have higher blood pressure and are less likely to seek medical care than women of other races, which can cause fatal complications in delivery.

Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

• Eclampsia consists of seizures in pregnant women that might be fatal to the mother and to the fetus. It usually occurs in the latter part of the second or third trimester. It can occur before, during and after labor. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and rapid weight gain. You can also experience nausea and vomiting, pain, swelling in your hands and face and vision difficulties. If you gain more than 2 lbs. a week, speak to your doctor immediately. You might be prescribed anticonvulsant medication or blood pressure medication to suppress symptoms. This condition might require an emergency delivery. Although it occurs in one out of every 2,000 to 3,000 pregnancies, eclampsia is rarely fatal.

Amniotic Fluid Embolism

• Amniotic fluid embolism causes cardiorespiratory collapse in the mother. Waste material from the fetus enters the mother's bloodstream, triggering an allergic reaction that is usually fatal to the mother and sometimes to the fetus. It can occur shortly before, shortly after or during labor. It is estimated to occur in one in every 8,000 to 80,000 pregnancies, according to Resuscitation, the official journal of the European Resuscitation Council. In the United States, four out of every five women affected by this condition will likely die. Quick detection and aggressive resuscitation attempts are most likely to reduce mortality.

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

• Acute fatty liver of pregnancy usually occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. This condition can be fatal to the mother and fetus and can require an emergency delivery. It is best prevented by receiving ongoing care and observation throughout pregnancy. Death to the mother or fetus can occur in about one out of every five who are affected by this condition. Headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting are all symptoms of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.