Maternal mortality is a system failure. Here’s what California is doing to save lives | Opinion

For nearly two decades, California has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality. In fact, our state has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the nation. But despite this progress, we’re still losing far too many pregnant people to pregnancy-related complications.

So, California is turning to the real experts: moms.

California began pioneering and developing maternal care toolkits that help healthcare providers manage emergencies such as hemorrhage, and it’s been a life-saving first step. These toolkits are used globally and have saved countless lives, but we know we must do more.

California’s success has largely resulted from within the healthcare setting and health care professionals, but elevating and including a patient’s voice is an essential part of comprehensive medical care.

When women and pregnant people feel dismissed, unheard or misunderstood by providers, gaps in care can occur that lead to serious, life-threatening consequences. We’ve heard the stories of mothers who weren’t listened to, who weren’t believed and who paid the ultimate price for it.

Too many women have told us that they feel ignored or unheard by their healthcare provider. And, historically, doctors and medical professionals haven’t always prioritized listening to the concerns and fears of their patients. This is especially true for Black women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women, and for Hispanic women, who have seen an increase in pregnancy-related deaths.

Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately vulnerable to chronic diseases that can impact their pregnancy. But the truth is that no one is immune: The surge in deaths during the pandemic underscored just how vulnerable all expectant mothers really are. In California, heart disease is the leading cause of maternal deaths, followed closely by behavioral health issues, hemorrhage and infection.

When more than 80% of these deaths are preventable, we must do more.

Maternal mortality is a system failure that the Office of the California Surgeon General is determined to address. California’s Maternal Health Blueprint outlines our approach to the maternal health crisis and sets the framework for Strong Start & Beyond–a movement to reduce the maternal mortality rate 50% by December 2026. Strong Start & Beyond is incorporating the missing component often overlooked–the patient’s proactive voice and participation that begins with the continuum of wellness, from preconception health, prenatal care to health beyond delivery.

Our solution starts with an easy-to-understand Preconception Medical Assessment that anyone can complete anywhere outside of a doctor’s office to help identify potential medical needs before pregnancy. It’s simple but revolutionary. Most women don’t know that their health before pregnancy is important until after they’ve already conceived, and, by then, complications might already be on their doorstep.

The Blueprint emphasizes participation in existing programs that can enhance health outcomes throughout the reproductive lifecycle, promoting a more integrated approach to care. Tangible resources, recommendations and assessments will soon be available. We’re also working with community organizations such as Fresno’s BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center to ensure that people are equipped with the right perinatal questions to ask during their care, giving them the knowledge they need to advocate for their own health.

Collectively, we call this framework the Three A’s: awareness, action and advocacy. This simple yet powerful framework can help save lives.

These aren’t isolated problems, they’re happening across the nation and overseas and demand a unified response. What we’re doing in California — breaking down silos to work collaboratively, focusing on prevention, bringing in community voices and putting mothers and pregnant people at the forefront — can be replicated everywhere. The solutions are simple. It’s about using the data we already have, amplifying the work that’s already happening and ensuring that every mother, regardless of race or income, is proactively connected to necessary resources.

It’s time to stop treating maternal mortality as an inevitable part of pregnancy. With the right care and collaborative effort, nearly every one of these deaths can be prevented.

This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM.