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When I began my career as a high-risk pregnancy doctor, I focused on fetal development. Ultrasound technology had advanced significantly, and we could tell expecting mothers and families so much more about their babies than before. It was an exciting time!
Ten years ago, as we celebrated the advances in fetal and neonatal care, I noted that there had been very few in maternal care. At the same time, many women were facing and continue to face more risk during pregnancy. The result is a completely unacceptable maternal mortality rate in the United States -- and Black women and their families experience this immeasurable tragedy significantly more than white women.
The impact of a maternal death is truly immeasurable -- on families, on communities, and on teams of providers. I will never forget the first time that I walked out of an operating room to tell a husband that his wife had died as his child was born. That moment will be with me for the rest of my life.
No woman should lose her life from a preventable pregnancy complication. My efforts have been on how provider teams manage complications like postpartum hemorrhage and life-threatening blood pressure and blood clots. We still have work to do, but I believe we have made some progress. I am hopeful.
Maternal mortality is a complex problem that involves many factors. That's why I became involved with March for Moms.
March for Moms brings together the voices of families, healthcare providers, policymakers, and partners to advocate for a mother's health, well-being, and equal access to care.
I owe it to our patients and our obstetric teams to take action on behalf of mothers.
Mary E. D'Alton, MD
Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Willard C. Rapplye Professon of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Director of Services, Sloane Hospital for Women at New York-Presbyterian
March for Moms is a non-partisan, 501 ©(3) non-profit that aligns the diverse voices of families, health care providers, policymakers, and partners to advocate for mothers and families’ health, well-being and equal access to care.
