Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Consult Series #55: Counseling women at increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality

Abstract

Women should be provided with evidence-based information when considering options for contraception and pregnancy management. When counseling about health conditions and available treatments, healthcare practitioners should employ strategies that encourage the incorporation of informed patient preferences into a shared decision-making process with the patient. To optimize the health of women at risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes during or after pregnancy, counseling should be a continuous process throughout the reproductive life course. The purpose of this Consult is to provide guidance for all healthcare practitioners about counseling reproductive-aged women who may be at high risk of experiencing maternal morbidity or mortality.

Keywords: counseling; maternal morbidity; maternal mortality; pregnancy risk communication; shared decision-making.