A new Harris Poll study reveals that 88 percent of U.S. women say more needs to be done to make childbirth safer, up from 83 percent in 2024. Black women face a 166 percent higher rate of severe maternal complications, such as preeclampsia, hemorrhage, and sepsis, compared to white women. The data highlights persistent gaps in mental health support, patient education, and postpartum follow-up across the American healthcare system.
Maternal Health Gaps Persist Across the United States
Millions of women manage pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery while facing critical shortages in care and information, according to findings from the Harris Poll research. Sixty percent of respondents report that women like them must fight for necessary medical care. Additionally, 42 percent of female respondents who currently are or previously have been pregnant state that they faced obstacles when trying to obtain pregnancy or childbirth care.
Christina Lojek, senior research manager at the Harris Poll, notes that maternal health is no longer a niche issue. She states that the healthcare system must stop treating maternal care as something that ends at delivery. Instead, she advocates for a system supporting women physically, emotionally, and practically before, during, and long after childbirth.
Many New Mothers Receive Subpar Postpartum Support
Mental health remains a significant concern for mothers. Out of all women who are or have been pregnant, 36 percent state they were given a mental health diagnosis while pregnant. Anxiety affects 25 percent of these women, while 22 percent experience depression.
Postpartum mental health issues impact 56 percent of new mothers. Among those who experienced these issues, 52 percent received subpar support or none at all. Although 65 percent of women want healthcare providers to discuss postpartum depression proactively during prenatal visits, 46 percent received insufficient information or resources from their provider.
Calls for Extended Postpartum Follow-Up and Home Visits
Eighty-six percent of women state that more postpartum follow-up should be part of standard care. Lojek recommends offering multiple appointments spaced out over time rather than relying on a single traditional six-week checkup. She points out that at six weeks postpartum, many new mothers are still trying to figure out infant care while managing severe sleep deprivation.
The research also shows that women want home health visits included in standard recovery care. Lojek explains that home visits can alleviate transportation barriers and help mothers who struggle to follow rigid appointment schedules while caring for a newborn.
Advocating for Support Systems and Pushing Back Against Providers
To combat dismissal and a lack of information, Lojek encourages women to build strong support systems, including partners, family members, or doulas. Having an advocate during labor and delivery is essential when patients face high-stress, high-pain environments.
Lojek shares her personal experience with postpartum hemorrhages during both of her deliveries. Despite medical assurances that a second hemorrhage was unlikely, she trusted her intuition when symptoms felt wrong. Her doula intervened by bringing a nurse, which confirmed she was experiencing another postpartum hemorrhage.
Black Women Face Higher Maternal Complication Rates
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What specific disparities do Black women face in U.S. maternal healthcare?
Black women face a 166 percent higher rate of severe maternal complications, such as preeclampsia, hemorrhage, and sepsis, compared to white women. -
How common are mental health diagnoses during pregnancy based on the study?
Among women who are or have been pregnant, 36 percent indicate they were diagnosed with a mental health condition during their pregnancy, where 25 percent struggle with anxiety and 22 percent are affected by depression. -
What percentage of women report having to fight for necessary medical care?
Sixty percent of respondents state that women like them must fight for necessary medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.