I live in a country where 16% of our GDP is spent on health care, but we have the second lowest survival birth rate of any other developed nation. And even worse, those nations don't even spend one forth of the amount on health care that we do. Yes folks, that country would be the United States of America.
99% of all births in America happen in a hospital, where about 60-70% of births in other countries happen at home or birthing center. Do women have options as to how they want to birth their babies? In some states it is illegal to birth your baby at home. Do you think this should be appealed?
My purpose for creating this blog is to get incite from other women who would know why we have such a poor birth survival rate in America, and what we can do about it. Also, I hope to find out all birthing options, so that when the time comes for me to bring a child into the world, I will be prepared and confident knowing I have a birth plan that will be the healthiest for myself and my baby.
I invite all to comment and share their experiences with childbirth. Your experience and knowledge combined with as much research I can do on my part will hopefully give women an educational avenue to increase infant and mother mortality rates, and thus bringing America's birthing statistics where they need to be.
Is it really illegal in some states to have your baby at home? That doesn't seem right. People can do what they want to do. But, in birthing your baby at home, you've got to realize that you are now putting yourself and your baby at risk. In the US, we consider the x% of infant/maternal fatalities that occur in the rest of the world (where babies are born outside of hospitals) as unacceptable, so we do all we can inside hospitals so mothers and babies all go home safe and having a baby is not a dangerous thing. Any mom who distrusts a hosptial (because they think hospitals are out to make money or push c-sections or whatever) and births at home has to realize she is now on par with that rate of mortality in the rest of the world. I just think that we have medical technology, we should use it. So many women don't want epidurals because they are "drugs" or whatever. They're here to help! Having a baby doesn't HAVE to be painful, why do you want it to be? Anyway, just some of my thoughts about your post.
ReplyDeletePhoto birth announcements are a great way to introduce your baby to family and friends! After all, everyone is asking for pictures!
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