Help Us Raise Awareness to Save Mothers and Birthing People

Maternal sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency defined as organ dysfunction resulting from infection during pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, or the postpartum period.

Maternal Sepsis Week is an annual observance to raise awareness of the unique signs and symptoms of maternal sepsis. We also dedicate this week to sharing survivors’ personal experiences and remembering the loved ones lost to maternal sepsis.

Each year Maternal Sepsis Week is observed the week of Mother’s Day. In 2023, it will be held from May 14th to May 20th.

Join Sepsis Alliance in raising awareness of maternal sepsis to save mothers and birthing people. Keep reading to learn how.

Sepsis Alliance recognizes that not all birthing people identify as mothers. We are continuing to evaluate terminology to be inclusive of all experiences.

Amanda’s Story

Kayleigh’s Story

Maile’s Story

• Maternal sepsis causes at least 261,000 maternal deaths every year worldwide.
• A recent analysis of delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions in the U.S. found that 23% of in-hospital deaths were related to sepsis.
• Black women are 3.3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the U.S. Native American and Native Alaskan women are 2.5 times more likely to die than white women.
• The number of cases of maternal sepsis is increasing. One study of the National Inpatient Sample, a national database, reported a 10% annual increase in cases of maternal severe sepsis and sepsis-related deaths in the U.S. between 1998 and 2008.
• More than 50% of women who die from sepsis have one or more chronic co-occurring conditions, including chronic renal (kidney) disease, chronic liver disease, and congestive heart failure

*A complete list of references is included in this downloadable fact sheet.

LEARN MORE

You can help save moms by raising awareness of maternal sepsis. Click the boxes below to learn the different ways you can get involved

Spread the word – #MaternalSepsisWeek

Click on the below infographics to download and share them with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #MaternalSepsisWeek and tag @SepsisAlliance when you do.

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Maternal Sepsis: Epidemiology, Early Detection, and Equity Considerations

Thursday, May 18, 2023
2PM ET— 3PM ET / 11AM PT—12PM PT

1.20 RN CE Contact Hours Available

Sepsis in labor and postpartum is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. In this special Maternal Sepsis Week program, you’ll learn about the epidemiology of obstetric sepsis and how it affects different populations. Early detection and management of sepsis, awareness of inequities and recognizing the increased risk of adverse outcomes in some obstetrical patient populations is vital to improving outcomes.

The importance of equity considerations in sepsis care will also be explored, as well as how to recognize and address potential disparities in access to care, treatment, and outcomes for people in labor and delivery with sepsis. Click here to register.

Speaker: 

Malavika Prabhu, MD
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Specialist, Massachusetts General Hospital

Sepsis Alliance launched Maternal Sepsis Day in 2019. In 2020, we expanded Maternal Sepsis Day into an entire week. Maternal Sepsis Week will be observed the week of Mother’s Day.