Abstract: After years of failure to obtain accurate statistics on maternal mortality, the United States has noted a sharp increase in its maternal mortality rate, with widening racial and ethnic disparities. While some of this increase may be artifactual, pregnancy-related deaths are occurring at a higher rate in the United States than in other developed countries. In order to implement effective strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes, this must be investigated in an unbiased manner, and novel contributing factors need to be considered.