Ina May Gaskin Talks Maternal Mortality And Midwifery On Democracy Now

Democracy Now recently spoke with pioneering midwife Ina May Gaskin about maternal mortality in the United States and birthing options that are safe and affordable.

Gaskin, who is the founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee, revealed some shocking facts about the state of maternal health.

"We let so many maternal deaths go invisible," she said, adding that the U.S. is one of four countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is rising rather than falling.

According to Gaskin, the heavy reliance on invasive procedures during labor in hospitals has added to this staggering statistic.

Gaskin is also the founder of the Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, which seeks to draw attention to the high maternal mortality rate in the United States.

"It's very rare to see an undisturbed birth in a modern U.S. hospital," she told TIME magazine in 2011, "but when you see a woman who isn't frightened, who's giving birth without interference, you stand back in awe and realize how little needed you are except in the rare circumstance."

Citing the problematically high rates of C-section deliveries and forceps births in U.S. hospitals, Gaskin said that these procedures are "causing women to die".

Gaskin also expressed concern that many American doctors and nurses have been trained in a culture that seems to be afraid of "normal" births.

Last year, she won a Right Livelihood Award for her work "teaching and advocating safe, woman-centered childbirth methods."

Comments

[AngiG]

08:17 PM on 06/05/2012

This is not saying that c-sections are not life saving surgeries. It is saying that our country's c-section rate is more than double what is deemed safe or necessary by the World Health Organization. That means many women are having unnecessary surgery. We spend more money on maternity care than almost any other country yet we have more mothers and babies dying than 40 other industrialized countries and the maternal mortality rate is going up! Obviously our high-tech approach is not working. Look at countries who have the best outcomes and you will see more midwives.

[Vicki Trusselli]

02:22 PM on 06/05/2012

i had two c sections and if i had not had them i would have died. my babies in the 80s weighed 10 lbs. so there you go......

[adoreone]

04:04 PM on 06/05/2012

What does the 80's and 10lb babies have to do with you dying? I'm not making the connection.

[Vicki Trusselli]

04:28 PM on 06/05/2012

i had to have a c section. none of your business and i do not care

[Karla Ward]

08:26 PM on 06/05/2012

I think what Ina May Gaskin is refering to is the increasing number of women whom have c sections, that aren't medically required, that are suffering. I don't know your situation Vicki on whether you chose to have c sections or if you had to have them for a particular reason. Yes some women may require a c section. As a proffesional in the industry, I am glad we have the option of c sections in emergengy and certain situations. If the baby was too big, in distress, got stuck, issues with excessive blood loss (just to name a few !), I'd be suggesting a c section. I think the over all message is, if you don't have/need to have one, then why have one. There are associated risks with every kind of procedure which everyone should be aware of.