If we take a closer look at the global health indicators, it becomes clear that there are many shortcomings within the American healthcare system. While being among the most developed nations in the world, the US shows extremely high maternal mortality rates, standing at around 18 deaths per 100,000 births. In comparison to other similar countries like the UK, Canada, France, and Germany, the US exceeds them greatly.
It should be noted that the risk factors are not the same for different groups of women. The statistics show that there are significant racial disparities in childbirth-related risks, the lives of women of color, especially Black and Native American women, are at much greater risk. In addition, age is an important physiological factor as older mothers face significantly higher risks, although tragic exceptions exist in every category. For example, the recent death of a woman less than 24 hours after giving birth to triplets was truly devastating.
A popular myth surrounding this issue is the belief that the highest period of risk ends upon a successful completion of the delivery process in a hospital environment. However, the majority of maternal deaths happen days or even weeks later when the woman leaves the delivery room during the post-delivery period.
The first 24 hours and the first week at home are characterized by huge bodily changes as hormonal levels drop, blood volumes change, and the body starts its recovery from the physical stress endured during the delivery process. Nevertheless, as soon as the delivery process becomes stable enough, all attention in hospitals turns to the baby while the mother is being checked only sporadically. Symptoms such as increasingly difficult breathing, raised blood pressure, and excessive swelling are usually ignored as part of post-delivery exhaustion or simple nervousness.
Though experiences may vary between women, health care experts highlight the fact that there are some warning signs that should not be overlooked when experiencing them during the postpartum period, such as persistent chest pain, acute shortness of breath, intense headaches, significant vision impairment, and profuse vaginal bleeding. Other signs include obvious painful swelling, uncontrolled shivering, fever, and strong impressions that something is terribly wrong with the body.
Health care professionals often underline the role of a mother’s intuition since if they believe that their life is in danger, then they should seek medical evaluation immediately, and they should not hesitate to do so.
Resolving this problem would require changes to the structure of medical care provision, such as conducting more postpartum evaluations shortly after coming back from the hospital, removing any biases in the healthcare system, and treating a mother’s symptoms as important diagnostic information instead of dismissing them as mere postpartum anxiety.
For the new moms out there, before you give birth make sure you are answered all the questions you have about the delivery. What is your routine for postpartum care? What are the warning signs you should look out for within 24 hours? Within the first week? Whom shall you contact if something does not seem right after discharge? How do I handle postpartum complications such as hemorrhaging or embolism?
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Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
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