Some 12.1 pregnant women died for every 100,000 live births in the Netherlands between 1993 and 2005, compared with 9.7 deaths in the preceding 10 years, according to a researcher at the VU University’s medical centre.

Gynaecologist Joke Schutte said the increase may well be because women are now more likely to go ahead with their pregnancies even though they have serious health problems, such as heart and artery disease.
A government report recently called for efforts to make pregnancy and birth safer and health minister Ab Klink pledged to make extra funds available.