The hottest Maternal health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health Politics Topics

Covid summer and confusion, measles, cucumber recall, maternal health declining, and a curious MAHA report

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1855 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Maternal health Disease outbreaks Health Policy
  1. COVID-19 cases are currently low in the U.S., but summer waves are common. A new variant could lead to increasing cases, so it's important to stay informed.
  2. There is a lot of confusion around who can get COVID-19 vaccines right now. Eligibility seems to change often, and it's crucial to keep up with the latest guidelines.
  3. The MAHA report raised concerns about children's health but lacked detail on important issues like poverty. We need clear strategies and proper funding to truly improve children's health.

Chartbook 335 The shame of US maternal mortality - mounting crisis or chronic condition?

Chartbook • 1530 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Maternal health Healthcare access Public Health Health Disparities Reproductive Rights
  1. The US has a very high maternal mortality rate compared to other wealthy countries, which is surprising given its wealth and health spending.
  2. The maternal mortality rate in the US is not improving and shows significant racial disparities, especially affecting Black and Native American women.
  3. Some experts question the accuracy of the data on maternal mortality, suggesting that it may be overstated, but overall, the problem of high maternal deaths remains a serious issue.

Chartbook 334 Triumph and tragedy: trends in maternal mortality worldwide.

Chartbook • 1130 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Maternal health Global Health Women's Health Public Health
  1. Global maternal mortality in childbirth has decreased from 446,000 in 2000 to 287,000 in 2020, showing some progress over time. However, it's a mix of good news and bad news.
  2. While areas like Central and South Asia have seen significant drops in maternal deaths, Sub-Saharan Africa still faces high rates, with Nigeria alone accounting for a large percentage of global maternal mortality.
  3. Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, like Rwanda and Ethiopia, have shown that progress in maternal health is possible, even under difficult conditions, by reducing maternal deaths significantly.

Homicide is not the leading cause of death for pregnant women

Sex and the State • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Maternal health Public Health Reproductive Rights Social Issues
  1. Homicide is not the leading cause of death for pregnant women; in fact, most pregnant women are more likely to die from health issues like heart disease and blood clots.
  2. Media often highlights rare events, so if something makes the news, it’s likely not common; we should be cautious about believing it’s a widespread issue.
  3. There’s a lot we still don’t know about maternal mortality rates and what leads to them, but many deaths are preventable, and better support for healthcare is needed for expecting mothers.
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How to Report Post-Dobbs Deaths

All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti • 6014 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Abortion rights Health care Reporting Anti-Abortion Movement Maternal health
  1. Abortion bans have resulted in deaths since Roe was overturned, but they are often not reported accurately.
  2. It is crucial to clearly state the impact of abortion bans on women's lives without allowing for misinformation or equivocation.
  3. The broader systems failure, combined with abortion bans, leads to dangerous outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for accurate reporting and advocacy.

One simple trick to reverse the falling birth rate

Men Yell at Me • 693 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Roles Maternal health Social Issues
  1. More men need to help at home or families will struggle. When men share the load of caregiving, women can focus more on having kids.
  2. Policies that push women back home to raise children don’t really help birth rates. They often backfire and don't support families at all.
  3. True change starts with how people treat each other at home. Helping loved ones and sharing chores builds stronger communities and can lead to a better future.

“Girls Can Do Anything” But Sorry, Boys Can’t

Bodies get in the way... • 452 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Gender Equality Maternal health Medical Ethics Public Health
  1. Physiological differences between men and women impact health and medical treatment.
  2. Supporting male lactation may not align with the natural functions and purposes of breastfeeding.
  3. The separation of sports competitions by sex acknowledges and respects the physical differences between men and women.

Czech Republic data: vaccinated women are 66% less likely to give birth compared to unvaccinated women

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Maternal health Statistical Analysis Policy Critique
  1. In the Czech Republic, vaccinated women are giving birth 66% less often than unvaccinated women. This is a sharp decline in birth rates.
  2. Despite the concerning data, the government isn't addressing it publicly and claims it's a normal trend for birth rates to fall.
  3. In the US, health officials still recommend COVID vaccines for pregnant women, even while evidence shows a significant difference in birth rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated women.

Pfizer pregnancy trial showed the COVID shots increased AESIs (like major congenital abnormalities) in newborns by over 4X

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Safety Public Health Medical Ethics Clinical Trials Maternal health
  1. A recent study found that COVID vaccines during pregnancy are linked to a 4.2 times higher rate of serious problems in newborns compared to unvaccinated mothers.
  2. The study showed no benefit in preventing COVID infections among vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers, meaning the vaccine didn't help at all.
  3. Despite these concerning results, there seems to be a lack of awareness or action from health authorities to inform or protect pregnant women from these risks.

Woman-made: Finding Beauty and Agency in Childbirth

Humanities in Revolt • 79 implied HN points • 08 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Maternal health Reproductive Rights Body Image
  1. Childbirth is often misrepresented in popular culture as a life-threatening emergency, portraying pregnant women as helpless props.
  2. The painting by Amanda Greavette challenges mainstream birth stereotypes by emphasizing the beauty, difficulty, and agency of women's birthing experiences.
  3. Recognizing women's agency in childbirth is crucial for respecting their reproductive autonomy and can influence important ethical discussions around abortion rights.