While having a baby is a miraculous and joyful event, it's certainly not without its risks. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pregnancy-related injuries have surged by 75 percent during the last decade.

While hospitals have invested time and money into training doctors and nurses on how to deal with birth complications, few have invested sufficient resources to maternal postpartum care. Additionally, today many pregnant women are older or dealing with health issues that put them at a greater risk for post-delivery complications.

With an estimated 52,000 women across the United States and in states like Ohio impacted by pregnancy or delivery complications, many health care institutions are taking steps to reduce injuries.

One of the most common pregnancy and delivery complications occurs when a woman experiences severe bleeding or hemorrhaging. Whether immediately following delivery or days after giving birth, severe bleeding can quickly result in permanent injury or death. In an effort to ensure doctors, nurses and medical staff are prepared in the event of a delivery or post-partum emergency many hospitals now conduct simulation events.

Borrowing a page from military strategy known as situation-background-assessment-recommendation or SBAR, medical teams practice how to effectively communicate the emergency and planned medical intervention. One hospital in Ohio reports a 39 percent drop in pregnancy-related malpractice and liability claims since adopting the SBAR method.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, obstetrics-related complications and errors account for roughly $17.5 billion dollars in costs each year for hospitals. What's more, malpractice lawsuits related to birth injuries and postpartum complications often result in multi-million dollar lawsuits. For these reasons, hospitals would be wise to find ways to reduce maternal complications and errors.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Steep Rise of Complications in Childbirth Spurs Action," Laura Landro Dec. 10, 2012