CDC Confirms: Drop in Maternal Mortality Following Abortion Ban

JULY 8, 2025 — A CDC report reveals a decline in U.S. maternal mortality rates in 2023, challenging pre-2022 Dobbs decision warnings that overturning Roe v. Wade would increase maternal deaths due to abortion bans.

The CDC, using the WHO’s definition of maternal death—death during pregnancy or within 42 days post-termination from pregnancy-related causes—reported 669 maternal deaths in 2023, down from 817 in 2022. The rate fell from 22.3 to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Ingrid Skop, M.D., of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, noted on X that “U.S. maternal mortality fell since pro-life laws went into effect,” countering claims that restrictive abortion laws harm women.

Christa Brown of Heartbeat International, the largest network of pregnancy help organizations, said, “This report confirms that heartbeat laws and the Dobbs decision have made America safer for moms and babies.”

Prior studies, including a 10-year Mexican analysis, found lower maternal mortality in regions with stricter abortion laws.

Despite the overall decline, racial disparities persist: Black women’s 2023 rate was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than White (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women.

Brown urged addressing these gaps while affirming that emergency medical interventions remain legal nationwide.

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