The most common cause of death immediately after birth for a newborn are complications from premature birth like birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen), birth trauma, and severe neonatal infections.
The leading causes of death in newborns (neonatal mortality) immediately after birth are prematurity, birth asphyxia, congenital anomalies and infections.
Infections include early onset sepsis or pneumonia that is contracted near birth.
Congenital Anomalies include severe structural or genetic birth defects.
Birth Asphyxia is the inability to breathe or having a lack of oxygen right at delivery.
And prematurity is a result of early birth and low birth weight, which create critical organ system immaturity.
The most common cause of death immediately after birth for the mother also known as maternal death or maternal mortality, is severe bleeding also known as postpartum hemorrhage, which involves uncontrolled bleeding after delivery and is the primary direct killer of a women in childbirth globally.
Other leading causes of death in childbirth are cardiovascular and heart conditions, hypertensive disorders, infections like sepsis and embolisms.
Heart disease, stroke and weakened heart muscle like cardiomyopathy account for a massive share of deaths during or after a pregnancy.
Hypertensive disorders like high blood pressure conditions such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia can also lead to fatal seizures or stroke.
Severe bacterial infections of the uterus or bloodstream like from sepsis also frequently occur post delivery.
And embolisms which involve blockages in blood vessels like dangerous blood clots in your lungs or amniotic fluid entering your bloodstream can cause sudden collapse.
Although severe bleeding still remains the leading cause of death in childbirth in developing regions, whereas cardiovascular issues and high blood pressure play a more prominent role in developed countries.
The five causes of maternal death are postpartum hemorrhage, puerperal sepsis, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortion and obstructed labor.
Obstructed labor is a difficult labor in which the baby can't exit the pelvis naturally due to a physical blockage, which can lead to a ruptured uterus without medical help.
Unsafe abortion, leads to complications that result from pregnancy terminations that are done by untrained abortion providers or unsafe conditions.
Hypertensive disorders are a result of dangerous spikes in blood pressure, which lead to pre-eclampsia or eclampsia during pregnancy or during birth.
Puerperal sepsis, involves serious infections of the woman's reproductive tract, which occur during labor or the postpartum period.
And postpartum hemorrhage is severe, excessive bleeding that occurs after birth.
Globally, around 75% of maternal deaths are caused by five main direct obstetric complications: severe bleeding (hemorrhage), infections (sepsis), high blood pressure disorders (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), complications from unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor.
Maternal death, also known as maternal demise, or maternal mortality, is the death of a woman while pregnant or within a specified time after a pregnancy ends.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks deaths up to one year postpartum, while the World Health Organization (WHO) typically measures deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination.
Major medical causes of maternal death include severe bleeding, high blood pressure, and heart conditions, though a significant portion of deaths are considered preventable.
Common Causes of maternal death include cardiovascular and heart conditions: Heart disease, stroke, and cardiomyopathy.
Obstetric emergencies: Severe postpartum hemorrhage (heavy bleeding) and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (high blood pressure).
Infections: Post-delivery or surgical site infections.
Mental health and external factors: Mental health conditions, suicide, and homicide.
Warning Signs of maternal death include:
Severe, persistent headache.
Extreme swelling of the face or hands.
Heavy vaginal bleeding or blood clots.
Trouble breathing or chest pain.
Overwhelming sadness, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm.