• Among 33 industrialized nations, the United States is tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland
      and Slovakia with a death rate of nearly 5 per 1,000 babies, according to a new report
      from Save the Children (April 2006). This is the second worst newborn death rate in the
      developed world.

• The five countries with the lowest infant mortality rates in the March of Dimes report --
      Japan, Singapore, Sweden, Finland and Norway – midwives were used as their main
      source of care for 70 percent of the birthing mothers.

• Cesarean section is the most commonly performed surgery in the US, at a cost of $14
      billion per year.

• Cesarean-delivery rates are now at an all time high in the United States, standing at 1.2
      million, or 29.1 percent of live births in 2004. The increase represents a 40 percent
      increase in the past 10 years. (In 1970 the rate was 5.5%) In several New York City-area
      hospitals, the Cesarean-delivery rate is even higher – over 40%.

• In one 1999 survey, 82% of physicians said they performed a C-section to avoid a
      negligence claim.

• Overall, according to studies by Washington-based Public Citizen's health research
      group, the cesarean section rate for hospitals with nurse-midwifery services was about 13
      percent lower than the average cesarean rate for all hospitals.

• About half a million U.S. babies are born prematurely each year, data shows.

• A new report by the World Health Organization, published in the international medical
      journal, Lancet, identifies complications from cesarean surgery and anesthesia as the
      leading causes of maternal death in developed countries, including the United States.

• Another report by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, coordinator of Integrative Psychiatry
      and Systems Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Program in
      Integrative Medicine, comparing 1,046 home births to 1,046 hospital births found negative
      outcomes consistently higher in hospital births. These included a fetal distress rate six
      times higher in hospitals, a respiratory distress rate 17 times higher in hospitals, babies
      requiring resuscitation 3.7 times higher in hospitals, maternal postpartum hemorrhage
      three times higher in hospitals and 30 birth injuries in the hospital compared with none
      occurring during the homebirths.
  

AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR MIDWIFERY COURTESY UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND

• CDC estimates that from 1991-1999 the maternal mortality ratio was approximately 12 per
      100,000 LB. A statistically significant increase in the ratio was seen from 10.3 in 1991 to
      13.2 in 1999.

• The Healthy People 2000 initiative aimed to reduce this number to 3.3, but the goal was
      not achieved and has been reset for 2010.

• Since the 1940s, maternal mortality ratios among black women have been at least three
      to four times higher than for white women. Based on the 1991-1999 period data, for
      African American women, the ratio is 30 per 100,000 LB as compared to white women at
      8.1.
  
  (Source 1-3: MMWR, February 21, 2003 / 52 (SS02): 1-8)

• A study in 2002 conducted by the CDC showed that African American women were more
      than twice as likely to delay or receive no prenatal care visits. The majority noted barriers
      such as lack of funds or insurance or difficulty obtaining an appointment. (Closing the
      Gap, Maternal Health, January/February 2004, Office of Minority Health Resource Center,
      US Department of Health and Human Services)

• Hispanic American women are 1.7 times more likely to die than white women. ("Health,
      United States, 1998, with socioeconomic status and health chart book". U.S.
      Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics,
      Hyattsville, MD,1998.)

• In a study conducted in North Carolina for the period of 1991 to 1995 which reviewed
      pregnancy-related deaths, 40% were discovered to be potentially preventable. For African
      Americans the percentage increased to 46%, while for white women it was lower at 33%.
      Quality of care was cited as the main reason these maternal deaths were not prevented.
      (Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005; 106: 1228-1234)

• The above numbers may be underestimates as shown by research conducted in two US
      states and two European countries which found underreporting of maternal deaths ranging
      from 22% in France to 93% in Massachusetts based on international classification of
      disease. (Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005; 106: 684-692)
  
  -- Used with permission, courtesy of Jeremy Walker and Associates, Inc., from the film's Press Notes, 2007.

• Buy tickets now!
• What We Learn From BOBB
• Who We Meet in BOBB
• "The Business of Being Born" website
• Review of the film by a midwife who saw the screening at the Tribeca Film Festival
      (you'll need to scroll down the blog to view the entry.)