Every Mother Counts: What the Latest MBRRACE-UK Report Tells Us

The newest MBRRACE-UK report has arrived, and its message is important. Between 2021 and 2023, 611 women died during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth. That’s 611 families changed forever. Behind every number is a mum who should still be here and a baby, partner, or community living with that loss.

But this report also gives us something important: lessons we can act on now to stop more lives being lost.

A Stark Look at Inequality

The report shows that some women still face a much higher risk of dying during or after pregnancy:

Women in the most deprived areas are almost twice as likely to die as those in the least deprived areas.
Black women are over twice as likely to die as White women.
Asian women face a 30% higher risk too.

These aren’t just statistics, they’re humans who had lives and dreams. And they remind us that safer maternity care must be safe for everyone, no matter where they live, what they look like, or what challenges they face.

The Silent Struggle of Maternal Mental Health

The leading cause of death between six weeks and a year after birth is suicide. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with the right support at the right time.

Case Example: One mum, already grieving the loss of her baby, repeatedly told her GP that she was struggling to cope. Her appointments were short, her pain brushed aside as “normal baby blues.” Weeks later, she took her own life.

The reviewers concluded that with urgent mental health input and proper follow-up, her death could have been prevented.

The report calls for:

Perinatal mental health teams to take the lead in supporting every mum who struggles,  even those who aren’t formally “accepted” onto their caseload.
Early red-flag recognition of mental health symptoms and urgent follow-up when mums reach out for help.
Compassionate, non-judgmental care for mums who are also facing substance use, domestic abuse, or the grief of losing a baby.

Every cry for help matters,  and must be taken seriously.

Physical Health Matters Too

In the first six weeks after pregnancy, blood clots (thrombosis) and heart disease remain leading causes of maternal death. These conditions can escalate quickly but are often treatable when recognised early. MBRRACE-UK stresses the importance of investigating unexplained symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting, thoroughly and urgently.

Beyond Physical Health

Over 90% of the women who died faced more than one challenge: pre-existing health problems, late access to antenatal care, domestic abuse, poverty, or language barriers.

MBRRACE-UK is urging maternity services to:

Assess and record social risk factors like housing, finances, and safeguarding needs, not just medical history.
Create urgent referral pathways so high-risk women are seen early by senior doctors or specialists.
Share information safely across services to keep vulnerable mums and babies protected.

Don’t Forget Postnatal Care

The weeks and months after birth are not the “safe zone” many assume. The report highlights how crucial it is that discharge summaries from hospital clearly list any medical, mental health, or safeguarding concerns and outline a follow-up plan. This helps GPs and community teams keep mums safe long after the baby is born.

Why This Matters

At MAMA Academy, we believe every mum should have the chance to come home safely with her baby. Reports like this are difficult to read, but they give us a roadmap to save lives.

We’ll keep campaigning to make sure every pregnant woman gets:

Personalised, holistic care,  not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Mental health support as routine and as prioritised as physical health care.
Safety nets that catch women before they fall through the cracks.

Together, we can change these statistics. Every mother counts, and every lesson we learn takes us one step closer to a future where no family has to endure preventable loss. If you’d like to read the full MRRACE-UK report, you can do so here.