The deaths of pregnant or recently pregnant women are reported annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. The most recent report shows that in 2004 there were 13 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 12 in 2003.

Statisticians have suggested that the increase may be due to a change in how maternal deaths are reported.

The implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) in 1999 resulted in about a 13 percent increase in the number of deaths identified as maternal deaths between 1998 and 1999. The rate increased again between 2002 and 2003 after a separate pregnancy question that facilitates the identification of later maternal deaths became a standard item on the US Standard Certificate of Death.

In 1915, the maternal mortality rate was 607.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Because the total number of US maternal deaths is fewer than 600 a year - significant but small - as few as 50 additional deaths nationwide could raise the rate. But other experts cite the rising rate of obesity and cesearan birth - nearly 1 out of 3 births - as well as age, race, and quality of care as potential causes.

Dr. Jeffrey King, an obstetrician who led a recent review of maternal deaths in New York State, told the Houston Chronicle, “Those of us who look at this a lot say it’s probably a little bit of both.”

The take home message for future moms - get healthy before you get pregnant.