Why woman are still dying during childbirth in the USA
According to a USA TODAY investigative report released in July 2018, thousands of women every year suffer serious injury or death during childbirth due to ignored safety practices, making it especially important that women take an active interest in their own care.
More than 50,000 women a year are injured and about 700 mothers die, often due to bleeding-related complications or high blood pressure (preeclampsia). The quality of hospital care in these risk areas varies from hospital to hospital and state to state, and the injuries and deaths are largely preventable.
But there are ways women can empower themselves to take an active role in their care and let their health care professionals know they’re “on it.”
In 2014 a coalition of medical societies, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG), the American Academy of Family Physicians and organizations representing obstetric nurses and anesthesiologist developed the AIM Program, rolling effective safety practices into “safety bundles” that outline treatment, training, equipment and reviews.
USA TODAY has created a printable checklist that draws from these sources, giving women a set of tips and questions they can use with physicians and hospital staff. It includes:
- What to ask about your hospital’s blood loss procedures.
- The warning signs of preeclampsia and how to treat it.
- How to make sure you get an accurate blood pressure reading.
Go here to read the full article and download this important checklist.
Visit First Candle to learn about the Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep Program
