Severe Maternal Morbidity

Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health¹.

Get the Facts

• Approximately 25,000 – 30,000 deliveries per year are affected by SMM in the United States².
• In 2021, there were 87.5 deliveries with SMM per 10,000 in-hospital deliveries in Oklahoma.
• American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) births made up 10.2% of all births in Oklahoma³.
• The top causes of SMM for American Indian women:
  • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
  • Acute Renal Failure
  • Eclampsia and ventilation
• Between 2019 and 2021, American Indian women experienced SMM at a rate 1.6 times higher than White women at 104.3 deliveries with SMM per 10,000 in-hospital deliveries⁴. (Excluding blood transfusions).

Risk Factors^{5, 6, 7}

• Pre-existing chronic conditions
• Older maternal age
• Current or former smoker
• Pre-pregnancy diabetes or hypertension (specifically AI/AN)
• Obesity (specifically AI/AN women)

When to Seek Care

• Seek prenatal care upon discovery of pregnancy.
• Talk with your health care provider about potential risks before pregnancy or as early in the pregnancy as possible.

References

1. CDC. (2019). Severe Maternal Morbidity in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfant health/severematernalmorbidity.html
2. HCUP Fast Stats Data Tools – Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Fast Stats. (n.d.). https://datatools.ahrq.go v/hcup-fast-stats/? tab=special-emphasis& dash=92
3. Peristats | March of Dimes. (n.d.). Peristats.marchofdi mes.org. Retrieved May 9, 2024, from https://peristats.marc hofdimes.org/perista ts/ViewSubtopic.asp x? reg=40&top=2&stop =9&lev=1&obj=3&c mp=&slev=4&sty=& eny=&chy=2019202 1
4. Oklahoma Maternal Mortality Review Committee Annual Report 2023. (n.d.). https://oklahoma.g ov/content/dam/ok /en/health/health2/ aem-documents/ family-health/ maternal-andchild-health/ maternal-healthtask-force/ MMRCAnnu alReport2023PRI NT1.pdf
5. NIH. (2020). What factors increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality? Https://Www.nichd.nih.go v/. https://www.nichd.nih.gov /health/topics/maternal-morbidity-mortality/ conditioninfo/factors
6. Heck, J. L., Jones, E. J., Bohn, D., McCage, S., Parker, J. G., Parker, M., Pierce, S. L., & Campbell, J. (2020). Maternal Mortality Among American Indian/Alaska Native Women: A Scoping Review. Journal of Women’s Health, 30(2). https://doi.org/10.108 9/jwh.2020.8890
7. Kozhimannil, K.B., Interrante, J.D., Tofte, A.N., & Admon, L.K. (2020). Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Indigenous Women in the United States. Obstetrics and gynecology, 135(2), 294-300. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003647

Nikki Garrod, APRN, CNP
Phone: (405) 426-8111

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Perinatal and Reproductive Health Division
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK