Mothers in the UK are more than three times more likely to die during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth than in Norway, a study has found.
A comparison of eight high-income European countries found that only Slovakia had worse maternal mortality rates.
Analysis of more than two million births in the UK showed that heart disease and suicide were the leading causes of death among new mothers, suggesting rising obesity and mental health issues are to blame.
But in more than half of Britain’s cases, doctors fail to record links to motherhood on death certificates, obscuring the full extent of the crisis, the researchers suggest.
Half of the deaths in the UK occurred in the 12 months after birth, pointing to shortcomings in postnatal care.
It follows a report from last week that the number of women who died six weeks after having a baby has risen by a quarter in five years.
Between 2018 and 2020, about 229 mothers died along with 27 of their babies, with many of the deaths “avoidable.” Another 289 women died between six weeks and a year later.
A comparison of eight high-income European countries found that only Slovakia had worse maternal mortality rates
The latest findings come from an international team of researchers, including academics from Oxford University, who examined data on millions of live births in Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and the UK.
The maternal death rate during pregnancy and up to 42 days after birth ranged from 2.7 per 100,000 live births in Norway to 10.9 in Slovakia, with the United Kingdom second worst at 9.6.
Only the UK and France had data on so-called late maternal deaths – those up to 12 months after giving birth.
They accounted for half of all maternal deaths in the UK and a quarter of those in France, with 19.1 and 10.8 deaths per 100,000 respectively.
Heart disease and suicide were the leading causes of death, and blood clots also ranked high in British mothers.
The youngest and oldest mothers were particularly at risk, along with mothers born abroad or from ethnic minorities.
The findings, published in the BMJ, suggest rising obesity levels are taking their toll, with experts warning it has become one of the most common risk factors in obstetric practice.
About 21.3 percent of the prenatal population is obese and only 47.3 percent have a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Obese pregnant women are at greater risk of pregnancy-related complications compared to women with a normal BMI, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
Researchers said the high number of cardiovascular deaths – which can be linked to diabetes and high blood pressure – partly explained why the risk was higher in older women.
They also called for more to be done to address mental health concerns, with serious conditions such as psychosis known to increase during pregnancy.
Half of the UK’s deaths occurred in the 12 months after birth, pointing to shortcomings in postnatal care (stock image)
Professor Andrew Shennan, from King’s College London, said vital deaths are well monitored so they can shape policy.
He added: “All countries should have a special surveillance system. [This] will enable strategies and policymakers to properly direct their efforts.’
Sara Ledger, from the charity Baby Lifeline, said: ‘This research is another reminder that there is a need to focus on improving maternal health.
“Children should not be left motherless, especially when other care can make the life-saving difference.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘We have already invested £127 million in the maternity system to boost the workforce and improve care.
‘NHS England has published guidelines to reduce inequalities and improve pregnancy outcomes, backed by £6.8 million in investment – in addition to hiring specialist networks led by midwives and experts, so that women have access to care for chronic medical problems around the pregnancy.’