Objective:

To analyze the narratives about extreme maternal morbidity developed by women survivors of this experience in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Methods:

Biographical-narrative study in which, through initial intentional sampling and theoretical sampling, 20 women were selected to recover their report son her experiences. The shared narratives were transcribed and later subjected to a paradigmatic analysis of content.

Results:

With a framework in the anthropology of risk it was identified that the narratives that prevail over extreme maternal morbidity are: a) As a synonym of death, b) As a fortuitous and ephemeral event, and c) As an illegitimate or invented situation.

Conclusions:

The narratives that women have built on their experience of extreme maternal morbidity are diverse, sustained in emotions ranging from fear to acceptance and disbelief; however, none of these narratives contributes to the development of a real agency to prevent a future obstetric risk.