When we talk about maternal mortality, certain words come up often: race, access, income. But one group is being left out of the conversation disabled women and the silence is deadly.
According to recent data, disabled people are 11 times more likely to die during childbirth or in the postpartum period than their non-disabled counterparts. Eleven. That’s not just a disparity it’s a national failure.
And it’s not because disabled people are inherently less healthy. It’s because the system wasn’t built for them.
From inaccessible doctor’s offices to biased providers who underestimate pain, autonomy, or intelligence, disabled people often walk into birth settings already battling mistrust and stigma. Some doctors still believe outdated myths that disabled people shouldn’t get pregnant, or can’t safely carry a child. That kind of ableism doesn’t just harm. It kills.
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But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Experts and advocates say the path forward starts with better education for healthcare providers, inclusive medical training, and most importantly, listening to disabled voices. It means designing maternal care that meets real-world needs: accessible birthing rooms, adaptive equipment, trauma-informed care, and policies that stop punishing disabled parents.
As one disability rights advocate put it: “We’re not fragile. The system is just cruel.”
This isn’t just a healthcare issue it’s a human rights issue. And until we smash ableism at every level of maternal care, that 11-times-higher risk will keep costing lives.
Disabled people deserve better. Full stop.
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