Childbirth Kills More Women - 13 Of Every 100,000 Live Births Kill Mother

[The Straight Story]

Childbirth Kills More Women
13 Of Every 100,000 Live Births Kill Mother

WASHINGTON -- There has been an increase in the number of women dying in this country from childbirth.

The National Center for Health Statistics said the maternal mortality rate rose in 2004 to 13 per 100,000 live births. The rate was 12 per 100,000 in 2003, the first time it was above 10 since 1977.

Health experts cited a number of factors for the increase, including a jump in Caesarean sections, women giving birth at an older age, maternal obesity and even a change in how such deaths are reported.

One California doctor said that with 29 percent of all births now by Caesarean section, there's going to "be a price" since the women face a number of surgical risks not seen in normal childbirth.

http://www.local6.com/spotlight/13970288/detail.html

[Warpy]

1. That doesn't include the number of women whose health

has been ruined permanently.

Childbirth is a risky business. It needs to be voluntary.

[Iris]

3. Yes, voluntary from conception through the actual birth.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Some more really really scary news

My son was diagnosed Monday with flesh eating bacteria. They have performed several operations and are pretty sure they have it all. Thank goodness. BUT this is the scary part...It was in the groin area in the lower intestines. And there was no cuts, no open wounds nothing like that. IT CAME FROM THE INSIDE. So the doctors surmise it was something he ate. The cleaned out his digestive tract and there is nothing there. BUT how in the hell did he get it.....This is very very scary isn't it. It could happen at anytime. Remember it is bacteria and even if you wash food you might not get it all off.

[bobbolink]

4. How about a seperate post for that?

The topic of maternal deaths may not be that important to you, but it IS important, and not something usually brought up.

Your topic would do well on it's own.

[badgerpup]

17. That IS scary!

Our guts are full of some of the nastiest bacteria you don't want to run into and as long as it stays contained where it's supposed to be, it's harmless.

But let it get out of that environment...YIKES! :scared:

I just looked up flesh-eating bacteria a couple nights ago...
http://www.nnff.org/nnff_what.htm

[bobbolink]

5. I'd like to know how this compares with other countries.

I didn't read the link... is there any mention?

I don't remember seeing this category in the WHO ranking of Health Care by countries.

This is important to know, but we usually only get the statistics on infant deaths.

Thanks for posting this! :thumbsup:

[tammywammy]

6. There was a thread yesterday on this, here's the link to that one too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1658418

[Tanuki]

7. Yes, and the version of the story in the other thread points out something important that is omitted

in the version above:
"_Quality of care: Three different studies indicate at least 40 percent of maternal deaths could have been prevented."

In other words, our broken health care system is killing moms needlessly.

[jhain]

18. Most other countries support

home birth. Here it has been regulated into virtual oblivion.

Statistically, homebirth, with quality care, is VERY safe.

[Bill McBlueState]

21. do you have the statistics?

The OP says the maternal mortality rate for all pregnancies is 13/100,000. Do you know what it is for home birth?

[jhain]

23. try here

http://www.gentlebirth.org/ronnie/homesafe.html#safety

[OzarkDem]

22. Thanks for that

A lot of people are dying these days due to lack of good health care.

[Benhurst]

8. Yeah, Caesarean sections may pose more risks and loss of life,

but they sure make the doctors' lives more pleasant. Who wants to be gotten up in the middle of the night or be called away from a golf game to deliver a baby? Jeez!

Posts like this just stir up trouble and make people dissatisfied with life here in The World's Only Superpower.

Long may it wave!

Bombs Away!

:patriot:

[Maine-ah]

9. a lot of c-sections are voluntary many are not.

mine was not, and it saved both of us. If I have another child, my hospital won't do a vbac, I will have to have another c-section. What I am wondering, is in that increased number of c-sections, how many of those are repeat c-sections?

edited for spelling...duh.

[Benhurst]

10. I have one friend and a family member who needed them.

But I have had neighbors and friends who have gotten them because they were more convenient. They have become the rule rather than the exception here.

[Iris]

14. Probably most are not voluntary. The real question is probably necessary or not.

And also how they come about becoming necessary.

[TheMadMonk]

12. You might want to look and see who is doing the requesting.

A good many C-sections come at the request of the mother who prefer the idea of a quick procedure than a long, drawn out and uncomfortable natural labour.

Doctors as a rule aren't quite that callous when it comes to scheduling their patients' health around their personal lives. It's bad for their malpractice insurance if nothing else. Not to say that they won't select what they tell the patient with an eye to guiding them towards a preselected choice, but the final choice almost always comes down to the patient.

[Iris]

13. Then someone needs to educate the mothers. n/t

[Withywindle]

11. This is why anti-choice rhetoric INFURIATES me...

(well, one of the many reason). Also "men's rights" advocates who act like writing checks is exactly equivalent to the minor inconvenience of pregnancy and birth.

A good friend of mine almost died when she had her son. She was 23; healthy, fit, vegetarian, non-smoker, no history of anything. And then she developed severe hypertension in her pregnancy. Thank the gods, both she and the baby were saved, but it was terrifying. She won't risk it again.

It is not something that should EVER be forced on someone who doesn't want it. And it is not a choice to be taken lightly.

[burrowowl]

16. Glad they are OK

eclampsia is NOT GOOD!

[cutlassmama]

20. I almost did too. Something happened with the epidural. When they gave it

to me my blood pressure "dropped out". They had to call the crash cart and give me a shot in my groin that went to my heart. It revived me. I had a tubal ligation after that.

[burrowowl]

15. The U$ of A is really

becoming 3rd world, are we going back in time when men had many wives because so many womenr died in childbirth.

[mopinko]

19. which is why home birth is safer.

by a long, long shot. no hospital grown superbugs, no unnecessary c-sections, and no baby switching. birth belongs at home, with the family.

[SidDithers]

24. There was a flame fest little while ago...

about maternal deaths:

Murder: The Leading Cause of Death for Pregnant Women

Your post certainly seems to make more sense, at least to me.

Sid