This 10 for 2010 programme improves patient safety for women and their babies associated with labour and birth.
The commonest cause of maternal death due to pregnancy (direct cause) is Thromboembolism and the commonest cause of maternal death due to underlying conditions (indirect cause) is cardiac disease.
Reviews have identified problems with the care provided to women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. These include inadequate antenatal and care, problems with diagnosis, failure to recognise deterioration during labour, failure to escalate appropriately, poor team work and communication, shortages of midwives and insufficient obstetric cover.
