QUINCY (WGEM) – The Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) most recent Maternal Mortality Data Report finds pregnancy-related mortality in Illinois was higher in 2021-2022 than in previous years.
The report said in 2022, 103 women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy. It also said 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable.
Shannon Zanger, Blessing Health System’s women’s and children’s care coordinator, said a lot of maternal deaths are related to substance use and mental health disorders. She said about 80% of women have the postpartum blues, which she said typically lasts for two days to two weeks.
Anything longer than that, Zanger said is considered a perinatal mental health disorder and typically includes anxiety or depression.
“I tend to see perinatal postpartum anxiety more than I do depression and I think that just comes from not knowing how to parent, not being prepared for what having a baby actually is,” Zanger said. “You know, you can read everything and still not be prepared for that day when that baby comes home.”
During pregnancy, Zanger said issues tend to arise because of a lack of prenatal care. She said many times problems in day-to-day life can cause pregnant women to not get the care they need.
At Blessing, Zanger said patients take social determinants of health screening which looks at things like their access to care and adequate housing. If a patient doesn’t have access to those things, she said they find ways to help.
In January of 2025, Blessing received a grant from the state of Illinois to help pregnant women at risk.
In the past year, Zanger said Blessing has used the grant to purchase extra medical equipment for pregnant patients. She said this equipment includes things patients can take home to check their health.
The grant has also gone towards the Doula program.
Zanger said the Doula program trains community members to provide support to pregnant women and help them feel more comfortable at their appointments. She said Blessing has trained 14 women in the community.
Support is important during pregnancy and Zanger said she believes it is the most important part of prenatal care.
“A person who is pregnant is going to go through lots of physical and emotional and mental changes and support is the biggest piece of that,” Zanger said. “So, if we do have a patient that comes in often and doesn’t have that support we want to find somebody that can do that.”
For those who are pregnant or new mothers, Zanger said she wants them to remember it is okay to ask for help.
Zanger also said friends or family members of pregnant women or new mothers can help support them by reaching out and asking about specific needs.
Women planning on being pregnant can also do things now to protect their health during pregnancy. Zanger said good exercise, proper nutrition and seeing a medical provider on a regular basis will help keep the body healthy.
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