State of American Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes for the majority of women and babies.

SCOPE AND SCALE OF MATERNITY CARE — EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES:

1. Over 4 million Births
2. 99% in Hospitals
3. Over 90% Attended by Surgeons
4. Second Most Common Reason for Hospitalization
5. Most Common Reason for the Hospitalization of Women
6. Care for Mothers and Babies combined Rank 4th in Hospital Expenses
7. Over 6.8 million Obstetric Procedures Performed – 2nd Most Common Category of Surgical Procedures
8. Three of the Four Most Common Surgical Procedures Performed in the United States are Obstetric

Nearly all women giving birth in hospitals are subjected to some level of technological or medical intervention.
THE MOST COMMON INTERVENTIONS ARE:

1. Over 31% (1.3 million) Cesarean Surgeries – Has risen over 50% since 1996, HIGHEST EVER
2. Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) rate has fallen over 50% since 1996, ACCESS DISAPPEARING
3. 34% (1.4 million) of Labors Medically Induced
4. 41% (1.66 million) Need Vaginal Stitching (episiotomy, tears, vacuum extraction, forceps)
5. 47% (1.88 million) of Labors Artificially Stimulated
6. 60% (2.4 million) of Women Denied Fluids
7. 76% (3.04 million) of Women Restrained In Bed
8. 85% (3.4 million) of Women Denied Food
9. 86% (3.44 million) Given Drugs For Pain Relief
10. Over 90% (3.68 million) of Women Attached To Electronic Fetal Monitors

What do we have to show for all this intervention?

OUTCOMES IN THE UNITED STATES:

1. High Infant Mortality Rate – Stayed Flat over the last 6 years, 29th in the world – Twice as High for African American Babies
2. Maternal Mortality Rate – Not Improved in 20 years, 25th in the world – Four times as High for African American Mothers
3. 12.8% (over 546,000) of Babies Born Preterm – has Risen 21% since 1990
4. Over 8.3% (over 354,000) of Babies Born Low Birth Weight – has Risen 19% since 1990
5. 44% (1.76 million) of Mothers have Emotional Or Physical Impairment after Birth Interfering with Ability to Care for their Babies
6. Over 25% (1 million) of Mothers have New Health Problems after Birth
7. 63% (2.52 million) of Mothers have some symptoms of Postpartum Depression
8. 18% (720,000) of Mothers show symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress with 9% showing all signs of PTSD.

With all the money we spend, why aren’t our outcomes better? Countries with lower costs and better outcomes for mothers and babies rely on midwives to attend most births – and many support out-of-hospital births.

The Midwives Model of Care & The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
www.cfmidwifery.org/mmoc www.motherfriendly.org
Promote Wellness, Education, and Individualized, Motherbaby-Centered Care.
Midwives are Key to Effective, Affordable Mother-Friendly Childbirth

Reprinted with Permission from Citizens for Midwifery

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