Giving birth can be deadly in the U.S. A new policy will save lives.

This Mother’s Day, it’s important to remember that for some, giving birth is deadly.

Between 2013 and 2018, more than 500 people in Pennsylvania died as a result of being pregnant or giving birth. And despite our continued advances in medical care, the rate of maternal mortality has been rising in recent years. This shouldn’t be happening.

Here’s something that also shouldn’t be happening: The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries — more than double that of France, Canada, the U.K., and other similar nations.

I gave birth to my first child during the pandemic and suffered from severe postpartum depression and anxiety — which, for some women, is deadly. But there are many ways pregnancy and childbirth can become dangerous. Some people develop deadly infections, while others bleed to death during pregnancy and childbirth. They can also develop cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, or blood clots, or a problem with the heart muscle known as cardiomyopathy, which can occur up to one year after giving birth.

Unsurprisingly, the burden of this high maternal mortality is not borne equally. In the United States, the mortality rate among Black pregnant people is nearly three times higher than that of white pregnant people. And like many other health metrics, maternal mortality has only worsened during the pandemic: From 2019 to 2020, the rate of death from pregnancy or childbirth increased by nearly 20%.

» READ MORE: For too many Black women, pregnancy is fatal. Temple thinks these birth workers could help.

In a time where reproductive rights are being threatened for millions, what can Pennsylvania do to help reduce maternal mortality?

Having health coverage before, during, and after pregnancy reduces the risk of complications after childbirth. In our state, pregnant women who make up to 220% the federal poverty level (or $50,666 for a family of three) can receive health coverage during their pregnancies; roughly three out of every 10 births in Pennsylvania are covered under Medicaid. But this government program typically has only provided 60 days of health coverage after childbirth, so anyone getting pregnancy benefits who makes more than the usual cutoff for Medicaid (138% the federal poverty level) would lose their health benefits after 60 days.

Sixty days of postpartum coverage for those covered by Medicaid is not only insufficient, it’s dangerous. In Pennsylvania, most maternal deaths among people receiving Medicaid take place between six weeks and one year after giving birth — often long after the 60-day coverage period has ended.

“Sixty days of postpartum coverage for those covered by Medicaid is not only insufficient, it’s dangerous.”

That changed in the beginning of April, when Pennsylvania adopted a new policy as part of the American Rescue Plan to provide coverage for a full 12 months after childbirth under Medicaid.

This is a crucial, lifesaving development. When people have health coverage, they can access behavioral health and other mental health care services, and reduce risk factors such as diabetes and heart disease.

But at the moment, this extension of postpartum benefits under Medicaid will only last until 2027. Five years will provide a lifeline for a lot of families in our state, but it is not enough.

Pennsylvania should make this expansion of postpartum coverage under Medicaid a permanent fixture, for the sake of our current, soon-to-be, and future families.

Allison Fields is a master’s student in health policy at Thomas Jefferson University College of Population Health.