New U.S. Maternal Mortality Data: What the Latest CDC Findings Mean for Pregnant and Postpartum Families

Key takeaway: The most recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that maternal deaths in the United States remain far higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. While rates have shifted year to year, pregnancy-related deaths continue to affect hundreds of families annually—and many are considered preventable. Risk does not end at delivery. Serious complications can occur up to one year after birth.

1. What the Latest CDC Data Show

According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022, down from 32.9 per 100,000 in 2021. That equals 817 maternal deaths in 2022 compared with 1,205 in 2021.

These figures come from national vital statistics data and are considered provisional until final files are complete. The sharp rise in 2020–2021 was associated in part with the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in 2022 is encouraging, but rates remain higher than in 2019, before the pandemic.

Public health experts caution against declaring a long-term reversal based on one year of data. Maternal mortality is influenced by many factors, including access to care, chronic disease rates, insurance coverage, and public health emergencies.

2. What Counts as a Maternal Death? Key Definitions Explained

The CDC uses specific definitions:

Maternal death: A death during pregnancy or within 42 days after the end of pregnancy from a cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.
Pregnancy-related death: A broader public health term that includes deaths during pregnancy or within one year after the end of pregnancy that are related to pregnancy.
Pregnancy-associated death: Any death during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy, regardless of cause (for example, a car crash or unrelated illness).

Understanding these definitions matters because many serious complications occur well after the traditional six-week postpartum visit. CDC reviews show that a substantial share of pregnancy-related deaths happen between six weeks and one year after birth.

3. Leading Causes of Maternal Death in the U.S.

Analyses published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and on its Reproductive Health pages show that leading causes of pregnancy-related death include:

Cardiovascular conditions (including cardiomyopathy, blood clots, and other heart disorders)
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia and eclampsia
Hemorrhage (severe bleeding)
Infection
Mental health conditions, including depression and substance use disorders

Heart-related conditions are consistently among the top contributors. This reflects broader trends in the United States, where chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are common among women of reproductive age.

Mental health conditions are also a major factor, especially later in the postpartum year. Suicide and drug-related deaths are included in pregnancy-related mortality when they are linked to the pregnancy period.

4. When Deaths Happen: The Postpartum Risk Window

One of the most important findings from CDC reviews is that maternal risk extends well beyond delivery.

Deaths occur:

During pregnancy
On the day of delivery or shortly after
Between one week and six weeks postpartum
Between six weeks and one year postpartum

In fact, a significant proportion of pregnancy-related deaths occur after hospital discharge, during the first year after birth. This is why ongoing follow-up care is critical—not just a single six-week checkup.

5. Racial and Geographic Disparities: What the Data Document

The CDC’s 2022 data show large racial disparities:

Non-Hispanic Black women: 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births
Non-Hispanic White women: 19.0 per 100,000
Hispanic women: 16.9 per 100,000

American Indian and Alaska Native women have also historically experienced elevated maternal mortality rates.

These differences are not explained by biology alone. CDC and professional groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) point to structural factors, including:

Differences in access to high-quality prenatal and postpartum care
Higher rates of chronic conditions
Insurance gaps
Geographic access to obstetric services
Bias and unequal treatment within the healthcare system

Rural hospital closures and maternity unit shutdowns in some regions have also reduced access to obstetric care, increasing travel times and delaying emergency treatment.

6. Are These Deaths Preventable?

CDC-supported Maternal Mortality Review Committees, which examine individual cases across states, consistently find that a majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

Preventable factors may include:

Missed warning signs
Delays in diagnosis
Gaps in follow-up after delivery
Lack of access to specialty care
Insurance coverage disruptions

Prevention does not rest on patients alone. System-level improvements—such as standardized emergency protocols, better care coordination, mental health screening, and improved access to postpartum care—are central to reducing deaths.

7. Warning Signs During Pregnancy and After Birth

ACOG and the CDC urge families to seek urgent medical care for:

Severe or persistent headache
Vision changes
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Heavy vaginal bleeding
Swelling of the face or hands
Severe abdominal pain
Fever
Severe mood changes, feelings of hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm

These symptoms can signal life-threatening complications such as preeclampsia, blood clots, infection, or cardiomyopathy. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, seek care immediately or call 911 in an emergency.

8. Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and Access to Care

Insurance coverage plays a major role in maternal health. Medicaid finances a large share of births in the United States.

Historically, pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage ended 60 days after delivery in many states. Federal policy changes now allow states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months. According to Medicaid.gov and policy analyses from KFF, most states have adopted this extension.

Continuous coverage can help ensure:

Follow-up for high blood pressure or heart conditions
Screening and treatment for postpartum depression
Access to substance use treatment
Ongoing primary care

Coverage alone does not eliminate risk, but gaps in insurance have been linked to missed care during the high-risk postpartum period.

What This Means for Families

Maternal mortality remains a serious public health issue in the United States. Even though the rate declined from its pandemic peak, it is still higher than before 2020.

For pregnant and postpartum families, the practical messages are clear:

Risk continues for up to one year after birth.
Heart conditions and mental health concerns are major contributors to maternal deaths.
Many deaths are considered preventable with timely, coordinated care.
Know the urgent warning signs and seek care quickly.
Maintain health coverage and attend postpartum follow-up visits.

Maternal health is not only about delivery day. It is about the months before and after birth—and ensuring that every parent has access to safe, respectful, continuous care.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early, limited, or subject to change as new evidence emerges. For personal guidance, diagnosis, or treatment, consult a licensed clinician. For current outbreak or public health guidance, follow your local health department, the CDC, or another relevant public health authority.