The Massive Maternal Mortality Crisis In America Explained.
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Date: 2019-11-01
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Comments and reviews: 9
julied945
I live in Canada and your non-existent leave (except for the states mentioned) is appalling to me. Here, the partner who did not give birth gets 6 weeks of paid leave (they can take it all at once or split it up) and the person who gives birth/adoptive main caregiver/mother gets a year. It's not at full salary (65% I believe for after 6 weeks, though the first 6 weeks are at full salary, but still, you get time to recover, bond with your baby, etc. Also, the main caregiver/mother can decide to go back to work earlier and then the 2nd partner could take over and use the rest of the leave, which happens more often than you'd think. On top of all this, if the pregnant person has complications during pregnancy, they can o on sick leave and eventually they fall on Employment Insurance, again after 6-8 weeks after having been paid full time and again at 65% of the salary. But still, you have an income and you can focus on your health. In Quebec which is where I live, you have subsidized daycare, so it's 7 per day (pro-rated so that it's kind of like income tax - if you make more, you pay more; 7 is the base rate for people making below the first tax bracket) which makes childcare accessible to all. I really hope the USA can have better policies soon. I feel so bad for families and for people who die simply because health care is not as easily accessible. I've had to use my system a few times in my life, for surgeries and for emergency reasons, and I never pay out of pocket. Even for overnight stays. I'd rather pay more taxes and not have to worry about paying for my healthcare. And I don't mind some of my tax money going to people who are using it for things I won't (like for prostate cancer, or pregnancy since I can't be pregnant. I think a country is just a larger community and communities should help each other out.
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I live in Canada and your non-existent leave (except for the states mentioned) is appalling to me. Here, the partner who did not give birth gets 6 weeks of paid leave (they can take it all at once or split it up) and the person who gives birth/adoptive main caregiver/mother gets a year. It's not at full salary (65% I believe for after 6 weeks, though the first 6 weeks are at full salary, but still, you get time to recover, bond with your baby, etc. Also, the main caregiver/mother can decide to go back to work earlier and then the 2nd partner could take over and use the rest of the leave, which happens more often than you'd think. On top of all this, if the pregnant person has complications during pregnancy, they can o on sick leave and eventually they fall on Employment Insurance, again after 6-8 weeks after having been paid full time and again at 65% of the salary. But still, you have an income and you can focus on your health. In Quebec which is where I live, you have subsidized daycare, so it's 7 per day (pro-rated so that it's kind of like income tax - if you make more, you pay more; 7 is the base rate for people making below the first tax bracket) which makes childcare accessible to all. I really hope the USA can have better policies soon. I feel so bad for families and for people who die simply because health care is not as easily accessible. I've had to use my system a few times in my life, for surgeries and for emergency reasons, and I never pay out of pocket. Even for overnight stays. I'd rather pay more taxes and not have to worry about paying for my healthcare. And I don't mind some of my tax money going to people who are using it for things I won't (like for prostate cancer, or pregnancy since I can't be pregnant. I think a country is just a larger community and communities should help each other out.
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j. D.
As a Canadian, this sounds NUTS I always wondered why people in the States talked about pregnancy as so dangerous, now it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that parents are having to pay the cost of a low-cost college education for some professionals to be more concerned about their costs/time than the well-being of the infant and mother. When I was pregnant it was made clear to us by the materials we were given that, even if they were convinced (like in my case) that we were going to need a C-section, they would let you labour AS LONG AS YOU COULD STAND; no short cuts (and definitely no such thing as elective C-sections. We were told that this is b/c the further it goes through the process, the better it is for the baby. It just doesn't make sense to purposely shorten that process, just b/c it is taking time for the personal. As it was, I surprised them and had a vaginal birth, but with hemorrhage complications. I am SO grateful that I had an AMAZING doctor to take care of me. It makes me crazy that this would be another area where women are treated like they all have Munchhausen syndrome. The staff at my hospital were so attentive and concerned about my blood loss after the birth (and amazed when my body bounced back so quickly. Also, to answer a question that was asked at the end of the video, in Canada we have a total of 9 months available to the parents of a newborn for the first year, that is divided up between the parents. Whatever one parent doesn't take is available to the other parent (so they can take time off at the same time, or take turns during the year) at, I believe it was, 70% of your income. It can make finances tight, but it is such a blessing not to have to rush back into work life after the stress of dealing with a new born.
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As a Canadian, this sounds NUTS I always wondered why people in the States talked about pregnancy as so dangerous, now it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that parents are having to pay the cost of a low-cost college education for some professionals to be more concerned about their costs/time than the well-being of the infant and mother. When I was pregnant it was made clear to us by the materials we were given that, even if they were convinced (like in my case) that we were going to need a C-section, they would let you labour AS LONG AS YOU COULD STAND; no short cuts (and definitely no such thing as elective C-sections. We were told that this is b/c the further it goes through the process, the better it is for the baby. It just doesn't make sense to purposely shorten that process, just b/c it is taking time for the personal. As it was, I surprised them and had a vaginal birth, but with hemorrhage complications. I am SO grateful that I had an AMAZING doctor to take care of me. It makes me crazy that this would be another area where women are treated like they all have Munchhausen syndrome. The staff at my hospital were so attentive and concerned about my blood loss after the birth (and amazed when my body bounced back so quickly. Also, to answer a question that was asked at the end of the video, in Canada we have a total of 9 months available to the parents of a newborn for the first year, that is divided up between the parents. Whatever one parent doesn't take is available to the other parent (so they can take time off at the same time, or take turns during the year) at, I believe it was, 70% of your income. It can make finances tight, but it is such a blessing not to have to rush back into work life after the stress of dealing with a new born.
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Acacia
In America, no matter what, in an emergency, you are treated for your medical needs (labor, injury etc. Even if you are not an American citizen. Some of these patients can't or don't pay their medical bills, thus forcing the hospital to up the cost of their services. This is a vicious cycle that results in never decreasing of prices. We had to prepay for our birth. It too was a scheduled C-Section (because of complications from my first child, this was not an elective. Our insurance is amazing, it's actually a healthshare (which I highly recommend people look into. Ours allows us to choose any doctor, any hospital. Anyway, we just pay the deductible and the rest is covered. But even though the birth was covered, we still got several bills billing us THREE times for the same procedures at about 2 to 4 times what we already prepaid. Our package was 9000 for our C-Section but we got billed an additional 50k for things already included in our package. That's when we found out that the billing department just sends out bills and hopes it gets paid. I was livid. That's being dishonest and basically robbing people who actually do pay their bills. I'm all for helping people first, questions and payment later because that's how you save lives and also its the decent thing to do. But if people aren't paying their hospital bills, it's not fair to the rest of us to pay an already increased service price, but also random repeated charges in the hopes we don't notice. Host a fundraiser or have food court proceeds go to things like that. Don't burden those already burdened. (Oh and those sneaky extra charges are in your name and therefore affect your credit if not paid - always check your bills.
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In America, no matter what, in an emergency, you are treated for your medical needs (labor, injury etc. Even if you are not an American citizen. Some of these patients can't or don't pay their medical bills, thus forcing the hospital to up the cost of their services. This is a vicious cycle that results in never decreasing of prices. We had to prepay for our birth. It too was a scheduled C-Section (because of complications from my first child, this was not an elective. Our insurance is amazing, it's actually a healthshare (which I highly recommend people look into. Ours allows us to choose any doctor, any hospital. Anyway, we just pay the deductible and the rest is covered. But even though the birth was covered, we still got several bills billing us THREE times for the same procedures at about 2 to 4 times what we already prepaid. Our package was 9000 for our C-Section but we got billed an additional 50k for things already included in our package. That's when we found out that the billing department just sends out bills and hopes it gets paid. I was livid. That's being dishonest and basically robbing people who actually do pay their bills. I'm all for helping people first, questions and payment later because that's how you save lives and also its the decent thing to do. But if people aren't paying their hospital bills, it's not fair to the rest of us to pay an already increased service price, but also random repeated charges in the hopes we don't notice. Host a fundraiser or have food court proceeds go to things like that. Don't burden those already burdened. (Oh and those sneaky extra charges are in your name and therefore affect your credit if not paid - always check your bills.
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Jacob Johnson
So does the CDC also consider the same statistics for other countries? Do other wealthy countries use the same metrics? Knowing how easy it is to misrepresent statistics, have you done a dive in to each of these claims and evaluations? When you say that a woman today is 50% more likely to die than their mother, it's a scary number. However, when you dial it in, it's up from a 0. 017% chance per 100, 000 to a 0. 026% change per 100, 000. While it's easy to say yes, that's 50% higher than the previous year, saying it that way is fear mongering. In America today you have less than 1% chance of dying from maternal complications. When you say 'massive maternal morality crisis' that's a pretty click bait title. If the mortality rate per 100, 000 were 3-5% and that got higher, then yes, I would agree, but going from 17 to 26 isn't massive nor a crisis. I believe that it should be investigated, but I don't like statistical misrepresentation. Further it would be nice to know how other countries treat this metric. Do they use the same set of metrics for maternal mortality rates? Is it 42 days in other countries? Do they only consider it a maternal mortality if the mother dies during childbirth instead of after? If you took away all of the statistics and just said, Maternal Mortality rates are on the rise in America, here's why we think it's happening, I don't think it would have lessened the impact of the reporting nor detracted from the severity of the story.
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So does the CDC also consider the same statistics for other countries? Do other wealthy countries use the same metrics? Knowing how easy it is to misrepresent statistics, have you done a dive in to each of these claims and evaluations? When you say that a woman today is 50% more likely to die than their mother, it's a scary number. However, when you dial it in, it's up from a 0. 017% chance per 100, 000 to a 0. 026% change per 100, 000. While it's easy to say yes, that's 50% higher than the previous year, saying it that way is fear mongering. In America today you have less than 1% chance of dying from maternal complications. When you say 'massive maternal morality crisis' that's a pretty click bait title. If the mortality rate per 100, 000 were 3-5% and that got higher, then yes, I would agree, but going from 17 to 26 isn't massive nor a crisis. I believe that it should be investigated, but I don't like statistical misrepresentation. Further it would be nice to know how other countries treat this metric. Do they use the same set of metrics for maternal mortality rates? Is it 42 days in other countries? Do they only consider it a maternal mortality if the mother dies during childbirth instead of after? If you took away all of the statistics and just said, Maternal Mortality rates are on the rise in America, here's why we think it's happening, I don't think it would have lessened the impact of the reporting nor detracted from the severity of the story.
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Jynexe
A black woman is 3 to 4 times more likely to die than a white womanThat. I dont think tells us anything. Let me explain: Let's say, somehow, we know the exact cause. The exact cause is doctors and nurses ignore them based on race. The result is they are more likely to die in childbirth. Let's say the reason is because doctors and nurses have a desire to kill black women because they aren't part of the master race. You'll see the same result. Let's say it's because black women are less comfortable because they perceive doctors and nurses as rich and powerful, meaning they feel like they are a lower status because of American history and modern jargon. You'll see this result. Let's say its random, some race has to have a higher death rate because of statistical variation. You will still get the same result. That's the problem with statistics, you're trying to derive the cause from the effect, thats like saying the answer to an equation is 10 then trying to figure out what the question was. Was it 5+5? 7+3? The derivative of 10x? It could be any of those or none could be right. We don't know. But there will be people who swear it's one of those and protest and yell when someone says, just as confidently, that anoit's another. Sorry for the rant, I just see people saying things like this are evidence that racism still exists in America when it means nothing.
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A black woman is 3 to 4 times more likely to die than a white womanThat. I dont think tells us anything. Let me explain: Let's say, somehow, we know the exact cause. The exact cause is doctors and nurses ignore them based on race. The result is they are more likely to die in childbirth. Let's say the reason is because doctors and nurses have a desire to kill black women because they aren't part of the master race. You'll see the same result. Let's say it's because black women are less comfortable because they perceive doctors and nurses as rich and powerful, meaning they feel like they are a lower status because of American history and modern jargon. You'll see this result. Let's say its random, some race has to have a higher death rate because of statistical variation. You will still get the same result. That's the problem with statistics, you're trying to derive the cause from the effect, thats like saying the answer to an equation is 10 then trying to figure out what the question was. Was it 5+5? 7+3? The derivative of 10x? It could be any of those or none could be right. We don't know. But there will be people who swear it's one of those and protest and yell when someone says, just as confidently, that anoit's another. Sorry for the rant, I just see people saying things like this are evidence that racism still exists in America when it means nothing.
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Jessica H
So glad youre covering this story After a difficult labour in 2009 i became pregnant with my third and last child in 2012. Realizing that my difficult experience was particularly due to not being informed enough about the entire labour, birth, and hospital intervention connection. After digging deeper I was horrified by the information I found. I am lucky I am Canadian because I statistically have better chances and options. But dont be fooled. Many women in Canada also die or suffer serious life changing results from botched c-sections. I know a solid 70 women who have had complications and in some cases nearly died -Ive also know some who have tragically died. Most of these C-Sections were optional or pressured on women who had misinformation and birth fear due to a lack of support and education. Many were preventable. There is also mandatory usage of medications like picoton which has been proven to accelerate labour but at the cost of both the mother and child. This drug makes a natural or low intervention labours nearly impossible and in many cases creates fetal distress or stress on the mother which leads the mothers to needing c-sections. Its vicious circle, really. This is a SERIOUS problem in Canada and the United States. We need to take the corporate greed out of the medical community and protect our mothers.
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So glad youre covering this story After a difficult labour in 2009 i became pregnant with my third and last child in 2012. Realizing that my difficult experience was particularly due to not being informed enough about the entire labour, birth, and hospital intervention connection. After digging deeper I was horrified by the information I found. I am lucky I am Canadian because I statistically have better chances and options. But dont be fooled. Many women in Canada also die or suffer serious life changing results from botched c-sections. I know a solid 70 women who have had complications and in some cases nearly died -Ive also know some who have tragically died. Most of these C-Sections were optional or pressured on women who had misinformation and birth fear due to a lack of support and education. Many were preventable. There is also mandatory usage of medications like picoton which has been proven to accelerate labour but at the cost of both the mother and child. This drug makes a natural or low intervention labours nearly impossible and in many cases creates fetal distress or stress on the mother which leads the mothers to needing c-sections. Its vicious circle, really. This is a SERIOUS problem in Canada and the United States. We need to take the corporate greed out of the medical community and protect our mothers.
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BashfulGeekGirl
As a mommy whom was close to death due to Preclampsia 2 years ago. It's scary to see this. this means I was extremely lucky. I still have aftermath troubles and my child was a preemie so we still have everyday battles we face now. the drs didn't catch on fast enough. I told my mother something was wrong I was gaining 10lbs a day she came over and we called the on call dr at the hospital and he had said it was normal the next day I demanded to be seen and I got a female dr and she instantly checked my urine and sent me to the hospital. Women KNOW when something is off. It was my first born child and I still knew something wasn't right. And Google was indeed my friend and savior because I typed my symptoms in and it pointed me to Preclampsia. I'm glad they are finally getting into these issues. By the time i have another I hope I can be more confident since the thought is so scary right now. I couldn't risk dying a second time to give my child a loss of their mother. So scary.
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As a mommy whom was close to death due to Preclampsia 2 years ago. It's scary to see this. this means I was extremely lucky. I still have aftermath troubles and my child was a preemie so we still have everyday battles we face now. the drs didn't catch on fast enough. I told my mother something was wrong I was gaining 10lbs a day she came over and we called the on call dr at the hospital and he had said it was normal the next day I demanded to be seen and I got a female dr and she instantly checked my urine and sent me to the hospital. Women KNOW when something is off. It was my first born child and I still knew something wasn't right. And Google was indeed my friend and savior because I typed my symptoms in and it pointed me to Preclampsia. I'm glad they are finally getting into these issues. By the time i have another I hope I can be more confident since the thought is so scary right now. I couldn't risk dying a second time to give my child a loss of their mother. So scary.
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whadafishyo
Growing up i kept hearing about how great USA was and the more i watch your deep dives the more im glad i didnt try to move myself over when i was given the chance. I come from a country where we have 16 weeks of fully paid maternity and if i were to be honest, it wasnt enough, and i couldnt afford to take unpaid leave so i had no choice but to go back to work. She was born via a scheduled c-section against my will because it was the safest way for me to give birth. I had 3 scheduled follow ups up to week 8 of birth to make sure i was recovering well and thats the standard care that every new mother gets. Im now expecting my 2nd one and in researching VBAC births i have realised that a lot of american moms are forced to have repeated c-sections even if they qualified for VBAC births and that is just ridiculous. Your system is broken, i hope someday it will be fixed.
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Growing up i kept hearing about how great USA was and the more i watch your deep dives the more im glad i didnt try to move myself over when i was given the chance. I come from a country where we have 16 weeks of fully paid maternity and if i were to be honest, it wasnt enough, and i couldnt afford to take unpaid leave so i had no choice but to go back to work. She was born via a scheduled c-section against my will because it was the safest way for me to give birth. I had 3 scheduled follow ups up to week 8 of birth to make sure i was recovering well and thats the standard care that every new mother gets. Im now expecting my 2nd one and in researching VBAC births i have realised that a lot of american moms are forced to have repeated c-sections even if they qualified for VBAC births and that is just ridiculous. Your system is broken, i hope someday it will be fixed.
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Anti- Rude Americans and WASPs
Hmmm. My mother had 4 children, all of them were by C-section. I'm the oldest and the only non-elective. My birth was so tedious and traumatic. . that my mom had to have a cesarean. She so preferred it and had no complications (not even a really visible line) she refused to have any normal births. She has a VERY visible line now but never had a complication, though she had to go to New York to see my nurse -highly trained- aunt and live in Queens for months so she could have my brother (the last born) safely. I believe she had him in Manhattan which I heard had some of the best hospitals in the world and this was in the late 90s. Maybe things have really changed but I do want to say she had the rest of us at home (Lagos, Nigeria) and her trip to NY was mostly a precaution. Could things have changed so much in 20years?
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Hmmm. My mother had 4 children, all of them were by C-section. I'm the oldest and the only non-elective. My birth was so tedious and traumatic. . that my mom had to have a cesarean. She so preferred it and had no complications (not even a really visible line) she refused to have any normal births. She has a VERY visible line now but never had a complication, though she had to go to New York to see my nurse -highly trained- aunt and live in Queens for months so she could have my brother (the last born) safely. I believe she had him in Manhattan which I heard had some of the best hospitals in the world and this was in the late 90s. Maybe things have really changed but I do want to say she had the rest of us at home (Lagos, Nigeria) and her trip to NY was mostly a precaution. Could things have changed so much in 20years?
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