Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) Data Dashboard
The dashboard on this page provides detailed data on Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM). These data are available by SMM category, year, residence, and other demographic characteristics. Data on this page is updated annually and was last updated February 2026.
SMM is defined by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as, “unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a woman’s health.” These outcomes may be directly related to pregnancy or broader medical conditions. SMM conditions may be grouped into the following categories:
- Cardiac complications (heart or blood vessel problems)
- Renal complications (kidney problems)
- Hemorrhage complications (bleeding inside or outside the body)
- Respiratory complications (lung problems)
- Sepsis complications (infections)
- Other obstetric complications
- Other medical complications
Note: While transfusions can be considered a SMM condition, delivery hospitalizations that required only a transfusion were not included in this data dashboard.
Health outcomes may differ across populations due to differences in several risk factors, including social and environmental factors.
Age of pregnancy is an important factor in determining the risk for health problems during pregnancy. Advanced Maternal Age (AMA) describes pregnancies in women aged 35 and over. This population has greater chance of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. These pregnancies will require closer monitoring and will possibly be referred to doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancy.
Access to insurance and the type of insurance a person has can help or hurt a person’s health care experience. By understanding what type of insurance, a person has we can then look into how different types of insurance what medical procedures are covered, how referrals are covered and what procedures will require out of pocket payments as well as co-payments. Medical procedures not covered fully by health insurance can prevent people from getting the medical attention they need.
While race or ethnicity does not have any impact on the biology of a human, it can shed light on how these populations are experiencing health care as well as the social and economic conditions certain groups live under and its impact on their risk for SMMs. When we see differences between racial and ethnic groups we can better understand where to place resources to improve the conditions populations are living in and increase access to health care inside and outside the hospital.
Health outcomes may differ across populations due to differences in several risk factors, including social and environmental factors.
Age of pregnancy is an important factor in determining the risk for health problems during pregnancy. Advanced Maternal Age (AMA) describes pregnancies in women aged 35 and over. This population has greater chance of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. These pregnancies will require closer monitoring and will possibly be referred to doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancy.
Access to insurance and the type of insurance a person has can help or hurt a person’s health care experience. By understanding what type of insurance, a person has we can then look into how different types of insurance what medical procedures are covered, how referrals are covered and what procedures will require out of pocket payments as well as co-payments. Medical procedures not covered fully by health insurance can prevent people from getting the medical attention they need.
While race or ethnicity does not have any impact on the biology of a human, it can shed light on how these populations are experiencing health care as well as the social and economic conditions certain groups live under and its impact on their risk for SMMs. When we see differences between racial and ethnic groups we can better understand where to place resources to improve the conditions populations are living in and increase access to health care inside and outside the hospital.
If you have any questions around maternal health data or would like to request data, email DHSFHSData@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Additional data and information related to maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health can be found on the Family Health Data webpage. This webpage contains resources that are freely available from state and national data sources. You will also find a guide for using WISH (Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health) to show you how to do your own data queries on a wide-range of health indicators in our state and communities.