Maternal Health Vocabulary

Maternal mortality

Encompasses the topics and definitions of deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period (up to 1-year from the end of the pregnancy).

Pregnancy-related death

The death of a woman while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of her pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by her pregnancy or its management.

Pregnancy-associated death

The death of a woman from any cause while she is pregnant or within one year of the end of the pregnancy

Maternal death

The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of the pregnancy but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Severe maternal morbidity

Unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health.