Tag Archives: High Risk Pregnancy

Maternal Health Awareness Day

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January 23rd is observed as Maternal Health Awareness Day, a day that recognizes the importance of spreading awareness and reducing maternal mortality. 

Maternal mortality refers to deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth. It is a major problem in the United States. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries and is the only advanced country to have maternal mortality rates that have increased in recent decades. 

Black and indigenous women in the U.S. are particularly at risk, as their maternal mortality rates are two to three times as high as those of other women. What’s more, black women in the U.S. are four times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related complications compared to their white counterparts. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines pregnancy-related deaths as any deaths that occur during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy from pregnancy complications that affect the mental or physical health of a woman, her baby, or both.  

Pregnancy-related deaths may occur due to: 

  • The pregnancy causing a new medical or mental health problem 
  • The pregnancy starting a chain of events that result in death 
  • The pregnancy making an unrelated medical condition worse 

According to the CDC, an estimated 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.  

Many social factors contribute to pregnancy-related deaths. Social factors are any nonmedical conditions, such as where women live, work, and spend their free time, that can affect their health. Social factors such as their income and access to high-quality care can affect a woman’s ability to manage conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes, that can increase maternal risk.  

The CDC recommends these tips for pregnant and expectant women, which can help prevent and treat severe pregnancy-related complications: 

  • Starting prenatal care early 
  • Seeing a healthcare provider throughout the pregnancy 
  • Attending all postpartum visits 

If you would like to learn more about maternal health, you can schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center. To learn more, please call (718) 291-3276. 

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Jamaica Hospital Welcomes Dr. Ugochi Akoma

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Jamaica Hospital Medical Center would like to introduce our community to Dr. Ugochi Akoma, our new Obstetric Gynecologist, specializing in Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Dr Akoma, who grew up in the South Bronx, earned her Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees at Brown University. She returned to her Bronx roots to complete her residency at the Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  After completing her residency training, Dr. Akoma demonstrated her commitment to her caring for her community by dedicating five years of clinical service to treat thousands of underserved pregnant women in the Bronx.

During that time, Dr. Akoma encountered many high-risk patients facing challenges such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections in pregnancy. These experiences further inspired her goal to complete a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. There she acquired the necessary tools to provide her patients with an expertise in diagnosing and managing high risk pregnancy conditions.  

Dr. Akoma joined Jamaica Hospital earlier this year and her current title is Director of Perinatal Diagnostic Centers- Obstetric Ultrasound, and Director of Quality Improvement in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to her training in the medical and surgical management of high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Akoma also specializes in the management of a broad range of high-risk complex medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, multifetal pregnancy, cervical insufficiency, preterm birth, and placental previa.

 Dr Akoma is a first generation American who understands the health disparities many women in our community face due to reduced access to safe housing, healthy foods, education, and quality health care. Dr. Akoma recounts, “After attending the best Ivy League undergraduate and medical schools, and residency programs, and having been a witness to seeing the vast health inequities in my community, I made a personal commitment to come back home and work towards the goal of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality and adverse outcomes.”

To make an appointment with Dr. Akoma, please call Jamaica Hospital’s Women’s Health Center at 718-291-3276.

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.