Why this section exists
Black women in the U.S. are 2–4× more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, not because they are sicker, but because their symptoms are dismissed more often and treated less aggressively. Knowing these signs gives you the language to insist on care.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Preeclampsia & HELLP
High blood pressure, severe headache, vision changes, right-side pain
Preterm Labor
Contractions, pelvic pressure, fluid leaking, or low back pain before 37 weeks
Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Intense itching on palms and soles, especially at night, raises stillbirth risk
Blood Clots, DVT & PE
Leg swelling or pain, shortness of breath, chest pain
Postpartum Cardiomyopathy
Heart failure in the weeks after birth, breathlessness, swelling, racing heart
Sepsis & Infection
Fever, chills, wound changes, foul discharge, can escalate within hours