"It's an 2ongoing concern, and we're doing lots of things to try to bring those numbers down and get us into a better space."
Dr. Sarah Sams with the American Academy of Family Physicians says many of the maternal deaths are 3preventable. Some linked to 4chronic diseases like 5obesity, 6hypertension and 7diabetes.
She says 8establishing care early on in a pregnancy is critical, but not everyone has easy access to that care.
"Family physicians still provide maternity care in many areas, and especially in 9rural and 10underserved areas, kind of, trying to 11alleviatesome of those maternity deserts."
Sams says having a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs play a big role in a healthy pregnancy. And since many maternal deaths happen up to a year after birth, she says 12postpartum care is also 13critical, especially if 14gestational diabetes or hypertension were present in pregnancy.
"Many of these conditions are signs that you may be developing those as a long-term chronic problem."