Pregnancy & Maternal Health — Force Field Fact Sheet (Draft)

What is Maternal Health?Diagnosis

Pregnancy is a medical event. The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country, with stark racial disparities. Most maternal deaths are preventable. Modern care: preconception health, equitable prenatal care, recognition of warning signs, and a robust postpartum (4th trimester) — the historically under-supported window.

Preconception — optimize chronic conditions, folic acid, medication review, vaccines, mental health, weight, genetic counseling.
Prenatal — first trimester labs, aneuploidy screening, anatomy scan, gestational diabetes screen, GBS, aspirin 81mg if elevated preeclampsia risk, vaccines.
High-risk conditions — preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, peripartum cardiomyopathy, VTE.
Warning signs — severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, severe SOB, heavy bleeding.
Postpartum — depression screening, BP monitoring, contraception planning, breastfeeding support.

Postpartum is medicine — the 4th trimester needs vigilanceKnow your plan

More than half of US maternal deaths happen postpartum. Modern guidelines redesign postpartum as a continuous transition with early frequent contact, mental health screening, BP monitoring, and primary care handoff.

Postpartum visits at 1-3 weeks + 6 weeks + 12 weeks.
BP monitoring at home + clinic for 6 weeks postpartum.
EPDS at every visit.
Warning signs that mean call 911.
Primary care + chronic disease handoff.

Your daily Force FieldLive It

Folic acid 400mcg/day preconception/early pregnancy.
Take prenatal vitamin and recommended screenings.
Aspirin 81mg from 12 weeks if elevated preeclampsia risk.
Vaccines: Tdap, flu, RSV, COVID per schedule.
Track fetal movement in 3rd trimester.
Postpartum: early visits, home BP monitoring, EPDS.
Mental health: perinatal depression and anxiety treatable.
Long-term: gestational diabetes → annual T2D screening; preeclampsia → lifelong CV risk reduction.

Red flags — call nowAction

Call 911 immediately for: chest pain, pressure, tightness, or burning lasting more than a few minutes — especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, or back; severe shortness of breath at rest; sudden cold sweat with chest discomfort; nausea or lightheadedness with chest discomfort; sudden weakness on one side, slurred speech, or facial droop (these are stroke signs, often related). Do not drive yourself.

Call your clinic the same day for: new chest discomfort with exertion that goes away with rest (stable pelvic pain worth evaluating); a missed dose of antiplatelet or maintenance therapy; medication side effects (muscle aches, bleeding, GI symptoms).
Bring up at next visit: any change in exercise tolerance, lipid follow-up timing, BP log review, smoking-cessation support, depression screening, sleep concerns.

Companion This condition assets

The full Prepared Patient program for This condition includes:

Engagement Screener 8-step Journey Disease Advocate Bingo Provider Hub Health Passport