Jaipur: Five maternal deaths within 25 days across the Baran-Jhalawar-Kota referral chain have raised concerns over gaps in emergency obstetric care, with preventable complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, eclampsia and delayed management of high-risk pregnancies emerging as key factors.The cases highlight delays in recognising complications, stabilising patients, arranging referrals, and providing timely critical care, with women reaching tertiary hospitals in critical condition.The latest death was that of 28-year-old Pushpa from Meramachah village in Baran’s Atru area. She delivered normally at Jhalawar Medical College, but her condition deteriorated within an hour due to uncontrolled bleeding. She was referred to Kota Medical College, where she later died after developing kidney failure and severe lung and liver complications.Roshan Bairwa’s death following a caesarean delivery on Oct 17 also involved uncontrolled bleeding, raising questions about emergency obstetric protocols, blood availability and round-the-clock trained teams.Reshma (40) died on Oct 16. She was undergoing her fourth caesarean section, a high-risk procedure requiring careful planning and monitoring for complications such as surgical bleeding and uterine rupture.Shabnam died on Oct 24 after developing severe eclampsia. She suffered seizures before delivery and was referred in a comatose condition. Reshu, who underwent a high-risk delivery resulting in a stillbirth, died on Oct 27 after developing kidney failure. She had remained admitted for about 15 days before being referred.Reshu’s death, which happened on Oct 27 after a high-risk delivery and stillbirth, underlines weak postpartum surveillance. She remained admitted for about 15 days, developed kidney failure and was later referred.The cases point to systemic gaps in managing high-risk pregnancies and postpartum complications, with referrals often happening after patients have developed shock, coma or multi-organ failure.A senior health department official said directions had already been issued to take measures to reduce maternal mortality. These include increasing antenatal check-ups (ANC), identifying and monitoring high-risk pregnancies (HRP), and linking pregnant women with appropriate medical institutions according to their needs.
