Safe Childbirth

Maternal mortality represents more than the loss of lives for individual women, as it also reflects the larger value and prioritization of women 's health and threatens the health and survival of families, young children, and even the communities in which they live (Royston and Armstrong, 1989). Maternal mortality is unacceptably high (WHO, 2015b). Globally, approximately 830 women die every day from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications (ibid.). The causes of maternal mortality are predominately preventable and can be classified into three fundamental causes: (1) medical - consisting of direct medical problems and pre-existent/coexistent medical problems that are aggravated by pregnancy, (2) underlying - social and legal conditions, and (3) health systems laws and policies that address availability, accessibility, and quality of reproductive health services (PHP et al, 2011).

Does everybody think or feels the same about childbirth around the world? This question above is a question that has always been in my mind. Now that I got the opportunity of choosing a topic to do research. I decided to choose childbirth and culture. This research paper is going to talk about how different cultures and countries look a birth in an entirely different manner. Some look at birth as a battle and others as a struggle. And on some occasions, the pregnant mother could be known as unclean or in other places where the placenta is belief to be a guardian angel. These beliefs could be strange for us but for the culture in which this is being practiced is natural and a tradition. I am going to be introducing natural and c-section childbirth. And, the place of childbirth is going to be a topic in this essay. America is one country included in this research paper.

In this week’s response we are given the choice to choose to respond on the topic about a type of “non-traditional” childbirth (i.e. hospital) of our choice that we would want to know more about and “What we learn before we’re born” from TED talk by Annie Murphy Paul . This week I am choosing to respond to a type of “non-traditional” childbirth (i.e. hospital). The type of childbirth I chose to talk about is a water birth. As interesting as this topic may be and all of the possible childbirths there are this stood out for me because I believe that it is amazing that a child can be born in a little pool.

In the United States giving birth has become medicalized and it is because the medical community has convinced women that having a baby in a medical facility is mandatory and better for the baby. Medial birth is not natural birth. The American populace is uneducated about the natural process of labor. The overwhelming amount of women having babies in hospitals is unique to the United States. Most other nations including first world nations, women give birth in the presence of midwives rather than a doctor. According to experts documented in the film, “The United States has the second worst newborn death rate in the developed world.” Also “The US has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among all industrializes countries.” The makers of this film link those fact with the common practice of hospital birthing. According to the film makers, Doctors should only be used in high risk pregnancy and births.

The fifth goal is to increase maternal health in countries with a focus on reducing the maternal mortality rate by three-fourths and universal access to reproductive health both by 2015. Despite a 43% reduction in maternal deaths since 1990, there are still a large number of women who die during childbirth from preventable causes such as hemorrhaging (United Nations, 2015, p. 38).

It’s fair to say that society in America has created childbirth to be a safe and often times un-freighting situation. Unfortunately, one cannot say the same for pregnant women in Nepal’s rural areas, where women fend for themselves to give birth, and run a high risk of maternal death. The societal view of childbirth is very different in either country, whereas women are treated very differently throughout the birthing process. In America we may think that the conditions and practices of childbirth in Nepal are unmoral, however, this is a major aspect of their cultural, and is often not looked down upon by people living in

Childbirth is like a marathon. Women need to take it easy after they've given birth for optimal healing. These tips will provide the fastest healing for women in their postpartum period.

According to the MDGs progress report; maternal mortality ratio stands at 16 in the developed countries, 220 in South Asia and 500 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNDP, 2012). Lack of access to and utilization of health care services for delivery are among the main reasons for the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in these regions (WHO, 2012). Maternal death can occur anytime in pregnancy, but delivery is by far the most dangerous time for both mother and baby (UNICEF, 2012).

“Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period” (sec. 5.2). Mothers play significant roles in the outcome of infants. It is important to remember that the health of a mother is significantly important, even before the woman becomes pregnant. Maintaining an adequate diet, and performing regular physical activities is essential in maintaining a healthy life. Poor health conditions lead to higher risk of chronic diseases and ultimately complicates pregnancies. Data shows that “287,000 women died due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications in 2010” (Data, statistics and epidemiology, n.d., p. 1). It appears that the trend has decreased in 2013, compared to the results that were reported in 1990. Deaths that occurred typically occurred in low-resource settings, but were typically caused by “hemorrhage, hypertension, infections, and indirect causes, mostly due to interaction between pre-existing medical conditions and pregnancy” (Maternal mortality, n.d., para. 1). A majority of these situations could have been prevented.

In 2013, 289 000 women died during pregnancy and childbirth and it was estimated that everyday 800 women all over the world died from childbirth or childbirth-related problems (World Health Organization, 2014). Often, maternal mortality is found to occur more often in developing countries than developed countries. Maternal mortality refers women who died from the situation like during pregnancy, termination of pregnancy within 42 days, regardless of duration and place of pregnancy, from aggravation caused by the pregnancy or pregnancy management (Nwagha et al, 2010). Maternal mortality may be resulted from direct or indirect cause. Direct causes are from obstetric complications of pregnancy, labour, and puerperium, and interventions whereas indirect causes are from the worsening of current conditions by pregnancy or delivery (Givewell, 2009). This paper aims to examine the causes for maternal mortality in both developed and developing countries and will end with a proposal for government to ensure women are given reproductive health rights.

In the given article, “Many Afghans Lost to Hazards Of Childbirth”, the issue is thought to be caused by the current lack of medical care in the country. However, I believe that this situation will not change to a higher standard unless the people themselves change their ways.

Healthy newborns are normally pink in color and rate well on the Apgar test (p.104; ch.3). There are many ways to give birth. Prepared childbirth uses methods like the Lamaze breathing technique to relax the mother and reduce pain, however a pain free delivery. During the leboyer method the room is set up to ensure the comfort of the child and the mother, and many even extend his techniques to water birth. Home births are another possibility; however, if complications arise the proper equipment might not be readily available. Last but not least, if the pain of childbirth becomes too much a mother can get an epidural, but the studies on how this affects the child have mixed results

Back before the 50’s and 60’s pain medication used during births did not exist. And when pain medication for births finally did, many women choose against it. They had the option for an epidural and to give birth in a hospital. But, the new trend was to give birth without medication due to the complications is could cause. Today, they way pain management has affected birth in a huge way. Not everyone has have this option during pregnancy, but now and epidural, a pain killing drug that does not affect the whole body. Today, the one thing that does not come to a woman's mind when they, find out they are pregnant is the opportunity that their baby could be born still, or not survive the pregnancy. Or that they could be in danger as well. Today many daily task include technology. So for a woman to not expect for technology to be available to her, it is a understatement. Women also have a plethora of options of technology, provided to them, throughout the pregnancy, birth, and early months. Finally, Today pregnancies are very big things as new technology is made to enhance your experience as a mother, which makes it easier to have less children. But giving birth hasn't changed one bit, babies are still birthed vaginally and some c-section. But where and the technology that is used after

Latin America holds the most restrictive abortion regulation in the world. Indeed, 4 in 5 of the countries around the world in which abortion is totally banned are located in the continent: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, and Chile. In the rest of the region, abortion is barely accepted under very restricted circumstances, like saving woman’s life, due to very specific physical health conditions, and eventually in rape cases. Nonetheless, there are several practical obstacles to actually respect these already limited exceptions, like conservative routines among health staffs denying abortions, restrictions enforced through allegations in court, or inaccessible facilities or a lack of trained personnel.

Infant mortality is divided into neonatal mortality (deaths in the first 27 days of life per 1000 live births), and postneonatal mortality (deaths from 28 days to 364 days of life per 1000 live births minus neonatal deaths). The World Health Organization defines maternal mortality as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes” (Kotch, 2013). Maternal morbidity is defined as “any health condition attributed to and/or aggravated by pregnancy and childbirth that has a negative impact on the woman’s wellbeing” (Maternal Health,