Lets take back our birthing rights!

Posted on Dec 11 in 2008 pregnancy, get involved, home birth advocacyby TalinaPrint

Did you know the United States is ranked 29th (among industrialized countries) with regards to infant mortality rate?

“Since ranking a fairly respectable 12th in 1960, the U.S. fell to an all-time low 29th in the world in infant mortality in 2004, according to the report Recent Trends in Infant Mortality in the United States from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The U.S. infant mortality ranking has been falling steadily, from 23rd in 1990, to 27th in 2000.” Quote source

Maternity care in this country really bothers me because it is so one sided, it is way to medically managed. I think that modern medical advancements are wonderful and that they really do save and help so many. Hospital birth is a fitting option for many women due to medical complications, risks and even because of convenience. I am glad we have so many trained and skilled professionals in these hospitals to treat us.

What bothers me is the idea that birthing anywhere but the hospital is bad. Hospitals are great for healing the sick and for managing complications but there are many women who are complication free who would like a different approach to childbirth that is not possible in a hospital. Those of us who have no complications that need managing should be free to choose a birth setting we are comfortable with but the AMA and ACOG don’t want that.

Our current need for health care reform is (in my opinion) a result of the one sided system we already have in place. We already know change is necessary and this is our chance to speak up about our views and concerns so that we’ll be heard.

Soon we’ll have a new president in office and there is no better time than now to start speaking up about maternity care and other issues that are important to us.

I am personally livid that how and where I birth my child is being decided for me by the law. This is a decision that is each woman’s to make much like the debate on abortion. It is a woman’s body and should be her right to choose.

I am all for educated decision making, I welcome the recommendations and advice of organizations like the AMA and ACOG, I also value other information sources such as Childbirth Connection’s Evidence-Based Maternity Care and many other sources. Knowledge is power so educate and advise us but DO NOT force us!

If you are like me and want to fight for change you can contact your representatives and express your concerns. This is what legislation is currently on the table:

Congress:
	S.507 Midwifery Care Access and Reimbursement Equity Act of 2007
	H.R.864 Midwifery Care Access and Reimbursement Equity Act of 2007
Georgia:
	SB480 Georgia Qualified Medication Aides Act; provide for delegation of certain nursing tasks; Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses
Missouri:
	SB637 Direct Entry Midwifery in Missouri
	HB974 MIDWIFERY – Davis, Cynthia L.
South Carolina:
	S881 S881
	H4347 H4347

Also consider writing President-Elect Obama about your views on health care and birthing options. With health care reform just around the corner we have a chance to make some changes but only if we all speak up regardless of our own personal preferences. Every woman deserves the right to choose, lets take that right back!

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4 Comments

• Donna B. says:

  December 12, 2008 at 2:32 am

  Some (I’m sure not all) of the cause of the low rating of infant mortality in the U.S. is because of way “live birth” is interpreted. Some countries define it as X weeks gestation regardless the presence of life in the child. Thus if that baby dies in its first month, it is not counted toward the infant mortality rate.

  I could not agree with you more that no one should be FORCED to have a baby in a hospital setting, even though I personally favor the hospital setting.

  Donna B.s last blog post..The Bailout
• maiden53 says:

  December 12, 2008 at 9:25 am

  I think that the hospital is not really the issue. The hospital is truly the safest. I think that you need to find a doctor that is willing to listen to your preferences…. good luck.. you know most drs hardly hear what the patient has to say. I bet you can find a dr that is more flexible to your needs. I think that most people just are not informed about their options, so the dr just stays in the “box”.

  maiden53s last blog post..Need Help, please
• Memarie Lane says:

  December 12, 2008 at 11:24 am

  I missed an opportunity the other day. At Brad’s work party a woman approached me and said “I heard you had your baby at home! I’d be terrified of the possibility of complications!” I should have explained that I had two licensed midwives there who were fully equipped to deal with any emergency, but instead I blathered about how I knew what to expect because it was my third child, etc.

  Memarie Lanes last blog post..The Living Room Yogi
• Hyphen Mama says:

  December 12, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  I wonder if the higher infant mortality rate is WHY the medical industry feels it’s ’safer’ to have babies in hospitals.

  It’s unfortunate.

  Hyphen Mamas last blog post..Dear Mr Hyphen, Yer Gonna Laugh. Someday.

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