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Introduction Obstetric cardiac arrest is a rare but catastrophic event with high morbidity and mortality for both mother and baby. Poor outcomes are linked to conditions such as pre-eclampsia and hypertension (Jeejeebhoy et al., 2015). Given the rarity of obstetric cardiac arrest, evidence on maternal risk factors and outcomes is limited. More data are needed to guide prevention, acute treatment, and recovery for at-risk mothers.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, a large tertiary centre in the West Midlands, UK, with roughly 5,500 fannual deliveries. Hospital records between January 2010 to July 2025 were reviewed in partnership with the hospital’s Maternity and Resuscitation Departments, identifying pregnant patients who had a cardiac arrest after 20 weeks’ gestation. Data were collected for these patients, focusing on maternal comorbidities, circumstances of the arrest, and maternal outcomes.Results In total, 10 in-hospital obstetric cardiac arrests were identified, slightly higher than expected given the national incidence of obstetric cardiac arrests of 1 in 30,000 births (Cardiac Arrest in Pregnancy, UKOSS/NPEU). Six women died at the time of arrest, four of whom underwent peri-mortem Caesarean section. Of the four surviving mothers, one died five months postpartum due to complications of hypoxic brain injury. The remaining three mothers, one of whom had a peri-mortem Caesarean section, survived with no long-term complications. Five cardiac arrests were secondary to cardiovascular pathologies (pulmonary oedema, aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism), with the remaining due to amniotic fluid embolism, obstetric haemorrhage, trauma, vascular obstruction and drug overdose. Multiple comorbidities were identified in most patients, with a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors. Four patients developed either gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia, and three patients had diabetes mellitus (one on insulin). Nine mothers were clinically overweight, and five had a BMI over 30. There were six mothers who were aged over 35 years, and five from non-white ethnic minorities.Conclusions The data suggest that outcomes for mothers following obstetric cardiac arrest are generally poor. Among obstetric cardiac arrest patients, cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, appear particularly prevalent. In combination, this reinforces the important role of cardiovascular health promotion among high-risk pregnant women to minimise the risk of obstetric cardiac arrest and its devastating consequences. This is particularly relevant as thromboembolism and cardiac disease remain the most common causes of death in pregnant patients (Maternal Mortality 2022-2024, MBRRACE-UK/NPEU). In women who are at particular risk, there may therefore be an increased need for specialist cardiology input.