S23 E1: Built to Birth

2025/2/13

Something Was Wrong

This chapter explores the maternal health crisis in the US, focusing on the high maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black and Indigenous women. It introduces Origins Birth and Wellness Center and the experiences of survivors, highlighting the systemic issues and ethical injustices within the system. The chapter also discusses the different types of midwives and the varying regulations and educational standards across states.

High maternal mortality rates in the US, especially among marginalized communities
Systemic inequities and ethical injustices in maternal healthcare
Varying regulations and educational standards for midwives across states
Concerns about safety and potential risks involved in choosing different types of midwives

Shownotes Transcript

*Content warning: infant loss, birth trauma, medical trauma and neglect, death, pregnancy loss, mature content.

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: somethingwaswrong.com/resources)

*Sources:

American College of Nurse Midwives

https://midwife.org/)

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

https://www.acog.org/)

Gestational diabetes

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339)

Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison)

March of Dimes

https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/about-us)

Maternal Mortality, A National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Panel Report

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10863655/)

Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2022/maternal-mortality-rates-2022.pdf)

Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC)

https://www.meacschools.org/)

National Midwifery Institute

https://www.nationalmidwiferyinstitute.com/midwifery)

Neonatal mortality is more than tripled at planned out-of-hospital births attended by direct-entry midwives. Grunebaum, Amos et al. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 222, Issue 1, S45. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(19)31440-1/fulltext)

North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)

https://narm.org/)

Placental abruption

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placental-abruption/symptoms-causes/syc-20376458)

Preeclampsia

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745)

Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Indigenous Women in the United States

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7012336/)

State investigating Dallas birth center and midwives, following multiple complaints from patients

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/state-investigating-dallas-birth-center-midwives-following-multiple-complaints-from-patients/287-ea77eb18-c637-44d4-aaa2-fe8fd7a2fcef)

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/)