#maternity-care

#maternity-care

A new nationwide study has revealed the ten U.S. states where maternity care is most at risk - with severe midwife shortages and high preterm birth rates creating dangerous conditions for expecting mothers. The research, conducted by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, analyzed the availability of midwives and preterm birth rates across all 50 states to rank where maternity care access and outcomes are most concerning.

When my first child was born in Medellín, Colombia, I had an emergency C-section after a long labor. My doula supported me at home, then accompanied us to the hospital, where I paid a small copay of 53,000 Colombian pesos, about $14. On discharge day, my husband was sent to the finance desk to settle the bill. Nervous about what we might owe, we learned that almost everything had been covered.

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The inquiry aims to address unacceptable risks women face during childbirth in the NHS, amid revelations of higher mortality rates among black and Asian mothers.

Niki Cotson, a mother in chronic pain post-birth, is advocating for North Tees Hospital to be placed in special measures due to alleged poor maternity care.