New Mothers Deserve Better Postpartum Care

Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous experience. The purpose of “maternity leave” is to give new mothers and their babies time to bond and allow families to focus on creating a new way of life. Yet many mothers receive poor or inadequate postpartum care, and it leads not only to quality-of-life issues but often life-and-death matters.

The World Health Organization explains that every year, there are 40 million women across the world who will encounter some type of complication during birth or after. Physically, this brings on complications related to incontinence, pain, and even infertility. For others, poor postpartum care can lead to serious infections as well as a lack of support for heart-related conditions.

“Many postpartum conditions cause considerable suffering in women’s daily life long after birth, both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognized, and underreported,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. He continues by stating that throughout women’s “lives, and beyond motherhood, women need access to a range of services from health-care providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs – so they not only survive childbirth but can enjoy good health and quality of life.”

Consider mothers in Memphis

Memphis’s population is about 64% Black. The Tennessee Department of Health’s 2022 report on maternal mortality found that “discrimination contributed to 1 in 3 (33%) of pregnancy-related deaths” in 2020, and that it played a role in 23% of all maternal deaths between 2017-2020. Per their data, “Non-Hispanic Black women were 2.5 x more likely to die than white women.”

Why does this matter in a conversation about postpartum care? It shows there is a huge disparity in the type, level, and amount of care that Black women receive after childbirth. Per Tennessee’s data, about 18% of all pregnancy-related deaths occur at home, and two-thirds of them are related to mental health issues which are not being addressed. Consider that, according to US Census data reported by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), complication rates in Black mothers after delivering a child are nearly three times higher than those of their white peers. What this comes down to is a lack of ongoing care and support.

All mothers face risks related to health and depression after they have a child. The difference is that Black women are less likely to have access to quality care, or if they do have access, some medical providers may not take their claims seriously. This creates a disparity that is unfair and wrong.

Postpartum care needs to improve

The same data from the CDC reports that 1,205 women in 2021 died because of some type of complication during pregnancy or within 42 days of that pregnancy ending. In modern society, such rates seem unbelievable when considering that many of them can be avoided with ongoing care and support after giving birth.

Improving postpartum care seems like an afterthought in many medical centers. Having a baby doesn’t mean a person’s body goes back to the way it was, nor that their mental health isn’t negatively impacted. What type of care do women need and not recieving?

• Healing support, including 6 to 8 weeks of time for the body to heal from the pregnancy and birthing process.
• Pain in the abdominal or vaginal area needs to be addressed as soon as there is a concern.
• Monitoring and screening for postpartum depression (PPD) must take place since research indicates it happens in as much as 15% of cases.
• Medication management after birth may be necessary, especially due to changing hormones.
• Many women need to have their overall health examined, including blood pressure, glucose levels, and overall physical health, to spot any warning signs of complications.
• Nutritional therapy and support need to be provided, especially to ensure healthy support for the healing process

Resources for new and expecting mothers in Memphis

Memphis has several non-profit organizations for pregnancy and postpartum care. Here are a few sources*:

• Guiding Star Memphis, which provides services and support for families and individuals.
• com, a directory of pregnancy and postpartum care providers.
• Apple Seeds, Inc., which provides an array of counseling services for mothers.
• Memphis Morning Center, which provides faith-centered prenatal and postpartum care for women in need.

(*Not an endorsement)

When is poor care for new mothers considered medical malpractice?

Perhaps the most challenging of these situations is proving that medical malpractice is taking place. Could some of these deaths be preventable? Could any of the complications these women face be avoided with better levels of postpartum care?

Some types of medical malpractice that our attorneys see include:

• Injury to the mother during the pregnancy or childbirth
• Injury to the child during pregnancy or childbirth
• Lack of understanding of health complications of a child prior to birth
• Lack of continued care after giving birth

If you believe that your doctor or hospital failed to educate you, provide you with adequate care, or used the wrong treatments or methods that led to your injury or the loss of your loved one’s life, it could be medical malpractice and needs to be addressed.

Medical malpractice related to postpartum recovery can happen. If it happened to you, or unsure if it did, reach out to Bailey & Greer, PLLC. Our dedicated team of malpractice attorneys serve clients in and around Memphis, TN as well as Jackson, TN. We are here to help you. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation.