American Indian and Alaska Native People Who Are Pregnant and Postpartum

What to know

You are the key to life and your life matters—for you, and your family. If you are pregnant or postpartum and something is worrying you, share your concerns. If you experience an urgent maternal warning sign, seek medical care immediately.

woman holding baby

Listen to Your Body and Get the Care You Need

If you're pregnant or gave birth within the last year, it's important to talk to your health care provider about anything that doesn't feel right. It may be physical, but it could also include feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that make it difficult to complete daily care activities for yourself, your baby, or others.

We acknowledge that it can be difficult to access quality care. But, if you experience any of the urgent maternal warning signs, it's important to seek medical care immediately. These symptoms could indicate a life-threatening situation.

Know the warning signs

If you experience an urgent maternal warning sign during or within a year after pregnancy, get medical care immediately.
woman holding sleeping baby in pink cradleboard
Your life matters—for you, and your family.

If you're not comfortable with your provider or feel like you aren’t being heard, try to find a trusted source of care that will hear your concerns. It's important to find someone you feel comfortable with, and to speak openly with them, so you can get the care you need.

Start the conversation

You know your body best. If you experience something that seems unusual or is worrying you, don't ignore it.

Campaign resources ‎

Download Hear Her® materials designed for pregnant people, new moms, their families and friends, and health care providers.

Hear the stories of American Indian women who experienced pregnancy-related complications.‎

These videos include discussion of pregnancy-related complications and harmful experiences with health care providers that may be difficult to hear. We encourage people who are impacted by this issue to connect with their support networks.