Nearly Dying In Childbirth: Why Preventable Complications Are Growing In U.S.

[steve2470]

https://www.npr.org/2017/12/22/572298802/nearly-dying-in-childbirth-why-preventable-complications-are-growing-in-u-s

Leah Bahrencu's kidneys and liver shut down. Samantha Blackwell spent a month in a coma. Cindel Pena suffered heart failure. Heather Lavender lost her uterus.

Every year in the U.S., nearly 4 million women give birth, the vast majority without anything going amiss for themselves or their babies. But more than 135 expectant and new mothers a day — or roughly 50,000 a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — endure dangerous and even life-threatening complications that often leave them wounded, weakened, traumatized, financially devastated, unable to bear more children, or searching in vain for answers about what went wrong.

For the past year, ProPublica and NPR have been examining why the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the industrialized world. That relative high rate of death, though, has overshadowed the far more pervasive problem that experts call "severe maternal morbidity."

Each year in the U.S., 700 to 900 women die related to pregnancy and childbirth. But for each of those women who die, up to 70 suffer hemorrhages, organ failure or other significant complications. That amounts to more than 1 percent of all births. The annual cost of these near deaths to women, their families, taxpayers and the health care system runs into billions of dollars.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. My niece nearly died during a C-section in October.

She was 43 at the time and had had surgery for endometriosis so it was considered a high-risk pregnancy. For some reason, she lost too much blood and blacked out. Fortunately, a fast-thinking nurse-anesthetist saw what was going on and the team acted quickly.

They're both doing fine now, but it was scary for my sister, who was in the OR with her during the procedure and delivery.

[RainCaster]

2. How the GOP saves the fetuses, then loses them to Healthcare cuts

Hypocrisy?

[CTyankee]

3. My daughter developed HELLP syndrome at her 8th month of pregnancy...

She had an emergency C section and was fortunately far enough along that her son was viable. That was 13 years ago. Scared the living hell out of me...

[pandr32]

4. It is our shame

Healthcare in the U.S. is for sale.
Corporations increasingly run health centers. I talked with one of my doctors who confessed that they are under pressure to spend less time with patients. More and more of the "care" is being administered by the dozens of nurse aides that take blood pressure and ask questions regarding "what brings you here today?" and "are you in any pain--if so describe where on the scale of one-ten?" The five minutes one spends with the doctor or physician's assistant are usually spent reminding the doctor of who you are.
Remember the once common and sage suggestion to always get a second opinion? I never hear it anymore. Besides, with steep co-pays it becomes out of the question, and if one's health care center is the emergency department or neighborhood charity clinic (both usually slammed with people)--good luck with that there.
Prenatal care is important. All women should receive full comprehensive and supportive care without facing bankruptcy and devastation--as should we all.

[Freddie]

5. Forced pregnancy of a doomed fetus

Or one with severe problems- that’s what they want. We are merely vessels.
Friend of a friend was thrilled to be expecting her first. At 20 weeks the ultrasound showed the fetus had no brain stem. He would live at most a day or two. She was a fanatical “pro-lifer” and refused to consider ending the pregnancy. She endured 4 months of heartbreak (I can’t imagine) carrying the baby, feeling him kick, knowing she and her husband would be planning a funeral instead of a nursery. At 8.5 months she developed pre-eclampsia and nearly died; the baby was stillborn via emergency c-section. This was her choice but could you imagine being forced to endure potentially life-threatening pregnancy and childbirth in this circumstance? That’s what they want. How unbelievably heartless. A woman’s life is worth less than a doomed fetus.

[CousinIT]

6. Women's healthcare in the US is abominable. They are considered breed stock, cattle.

That's part of the problem. Women are simply not considered human and thus undeserving of first class healthcare. It's certainly not the whole issue but definitely part of it.

https://www.thenation.com/article/reproductive-rights-and-long-hand-slave-breeding/