How Common Is Death During Childbirth?

Posted on Sat, 19 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 19 Dec 2015 Answered on

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Third pregnancy 38 weeks no history of hypertension or gestational diabetes, have had 2 vaginal deliveries. Extreme fear of dying during childbirth

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Sharma (5 hours later)

Please keep your spirits as good as it was during your first two delivaries. Thousands of females go through this process DAILY.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Sharma (2 minutes later)

Is it a common occurance that something like that could happen?

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Sharma (29 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No, it is not common, do not worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back.

Please be reassured that such things do not happen. The simple fact that you had two uneventful vaginal deliveries prior to this means that the chances of anything going south are remote.

If you have no illnesses currently, related to pregnancy or otherwise, then you can be absolutely sure that this delivery will be as smooth as your previous deliveries.

Child birth is a painful but physiological phenomenon and human females have evolved through natural process to go through it quite safely and the medical advances made over the last few centuries have made the whole process of being a mother safe.

The doctors will take care of everything, you need not worry at all.

Even if you have serious illnesses during pregnancy, the chance of a fatal outcome during pregnancy and delivery (combined), is 1 in 500,000 in your country. This is so rare that you can be sure that nothing will happen to you.

I sincerely hope I have been able to alleviate your fears. If you have further questions, I will be happy to help you.

Warm regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina