3 months ago
WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- Motherhood is usually thought of as a life-giving experience. But for thousands of women around the world, including here in the United States, it can be a life-threatening experience.
According to Women Deliver, an organization that provides critical care to mothers and their newborn babies, one woman dies every minute somewhere in the world as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. Add it all up, and that's between 350,000 and a half million women each year.
Women Deliver's spokesperson, Janna Oberdorf, says in many nations, the people delivering babies don't know how to cope with complications, including performing an emergency Caesarean section. "We need doctors, nurses and midwives to be educated and skilled to handle all situations," she said.
Even in the United States, some women forego prenatal care or avoid trips to the hospital because they lack health insurance.
Oberdorf said the United States lags behind 40 other countries. "It's actually surprising," she said. "The US is not good on the list of maternal health. Which, as one of the richest nations in the world, is really sort of shameful."
Women Deliver joined over 3,000 people from 140 countries at a childbirth conference Wednesday at the DC Convention Center.
According to recent statistics from the Department of Health & Human Services, babies born to mothers who don't receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight. They are also five times more likely to die.
For more information on prenatal services in your community, call 1-800-311-BABY or contact your state or local health department.
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