Photo: The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project Facebook

It is 2012. I am sure we all know that just by looking at a calendar though, right?

We all expected flying cars and time travel. Unfortunately we can’t even advance medical technology enough to ensure all women make it through pregnancy and childbirth safely in our country. Which is an incredibly sad problem facing mothers all over America.

If we are being honest, this election season has brought the worst out in many candidates across the country. Especially when it comes to the hot button topic of abortion. But the shit really started to get deep when a Republican from IL suggested recently, that because of the great advances we have made in medical science, there is no longer a need for abortion due to the life of the mother.

In fact, his statement was:

“There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology,”

Which is why I am all fired up. Not because this has anything to do with abortion. But because of my deep passion about the maternal mortality epidemic, and the broken maternity care system we have here in America. Sure, lots of women make it through pregnancy and childbirth with no issue. Unfortunately the mortality rates we see among our women not only suck but they are failing compared to other developed nations around the world.

America stands on its cocky soapbox screaming look at us!  We are the best! But in reality, we are lacking in this department.

According to Amnesty International:

Maternal mortality ratios have increased from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2006.

During this time, one of the other noticeable increases are the cesarean section rates. But, that is another post in itself.

Over the course of two decades, the rate of maternal mortality increased greatly. But here is the real kick in the ass.

The United States spends the most, per birth, than any country. Including all those countries with lower maternal mortality rates. Most of which have maternity care systems focused around midwifery care. Again, another issue.

Why am I writing this post? Because lawmakers in our country are apparently ignorant to what is happening right under their own nose.

Just something to make you think for the day. Do some research, look at the facts and wonder why?   Why is this such a problem? Why is it going unnoticed? Why are women dying at such an alarming rate? Why are lawmakers turning the other cheek?

WHY WHY WHY?

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Tags: 2012, abortion, election, maternal mortality, maternity care, politics

This entry was posted on Friday, October 19th, 2012 at 12:47 am and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.