Continuing Education Module—The Childbirth Educator's Role in Teaching Post-Birth Warning Signs

Abstract

The U.S. maternal mortality rate has doubled in the past 25 years and has risen despite improvements in health care and an overwhelming global trend in the other direction. Forty-five countries have lower maternal mortality rates than the United States (CIA World Factbook, 2018). For a country that spends more than any other country on health care and more on childbirth-related care than any other area of hospitalization, this is a shockingly poor return on investment. After prolonged attention during pregnancy and birth, there is relatively little attention to the mother's health and well-being in the postpartum period. Yet more than half of childbirth-related deaths occur during this time (Muza, 2017). To minimize complications leading to maternal mortality, childbirth educators need to teach mother and families to identify and respond promptly to warning signs of postpartum complications.