Here are a few potential reasons why the US has problems with maternity care: - High costs of care lead to less access and more reliance on high-tech interventions even when not medically necessary. Spending more time with providers could help address this. - Hospital-centric model of care doesn't always support natural birth processes. More time with midwives and alternative settings could help. - Lack of paid family leave makes it hard for women to get adequate prenatal care and recover postpartum. More time with providers could fill some gaps. - Focus on medical risks over emotional/social support needs. Additional prenatal visits could address whole health needs better. So in summary, while the US

1. Pregnancy and Preparing for Birth
QUOTE:
“PREGNANCY AND BIRTH ARE AS
ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY AS
BREATHING, THINKING, OR LOVING.”

2.  Preparing for safe & healthy birth
 Understanding maternity care in the U.S
 How to choose caregivers
 Choosing your birthing environment

3.  Physicalbody changes
 Normal fetal development
 Coping with pregnancy discomforts
 Symptoms and treatment of pregnancy
complications
 Youcan find more information on these
topics in some of the following books:
 Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth
 Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn or;
 The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

4.  Many physical and hormonal changes both in
the mother and child prepare the body for
birth over several months.
 During pregnancy some women feel:
 Heightened perception
 Increased energy
 Feeling of being in love
 Special
 Fertile
 Potent & creative
 Some women even get stronger negative
feelings.

5.  Anxiety and fear is normal it is best to find
support groups, classes and other activities
for expectant parents to help share your
concerns with those going through pregnancy
as well.
 Fear is natural with pregnancy due to many
unknown and uncontrollable outcomes.

6. GOOD PROVIDER & BIRTH SETTING WILL
OFFER:
 Care that is up to date on the latest research on safety &
effectiveness
 Environment and treatments that support or enhance the
natural process of pregnancy and birth
 Individualized care that considers not only the baby’s
needs but yours as well, including personal preferences
and values.
 Plenty of support, comfort, and information.
 Fast and accurate streamlining of referrals for
complications.

7. Types of Providers:
 Midwives:
 Four types of midwives:
 Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM
 Educated in nursing & midwifery
 Certified Midwives (CM)
 Educated in only midwifery
 Certified Professional Midwives (CPM)
 Specialize in healthy pregnancy & natural childbirth
 Nationally recognized
 Licensed but varies with each state
 Non-certified/self proclaimed
 Trained Midwives provide women with:
 Prenatal Care
 Care during labor and birth
 Follow-up care after birth

8.  Assist with gynecological check-ups, pelvic & breast
exams, pap-test and family planning.
 Physicians:
 Attend 90% of all births in the U.S
 Commonly provide care to pregnant women
3 Types of Physicians:
 Family Physicians
 Normally concentrate on comprehensive care
 Some provide maternity care
 Obstetrician-Gynecologist (ob-gyns)
 Most common provider chosen
 Most trained to manage complications of pregnancy & birth
 Usually present during birth and oversees labor

9.  Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician
 Subspecialistin obstetrics field
 Work with pregnant patient who have serious health
conditions like heart disease & diabetes
 Expertise in genetics
 Being able to find a provider is based solely on
you preferences and healthcare needs.
 Asking a family doctor or friend for a referral
can help.
 Some people interview doctors, midwives, and
etc. before deciding.

10.  Depending on the atmosphere you prefer for birth
there are a few options.
 Home:
 Good option for healthy women
 Choose your own attendants
 Birth Centers:
 Freestanding Birth Center:
 Homelike place
 Used during pregnancy, childbirth and time following birth
 Systems are in place to deal with complications
 Screenings are usually done in order to be eligible to use a birth
center
 Birth Centers in Hospitals:
 Philosophies range from freestanding centers-hospitals
 Advantage is emergency care is close

11.  Hospitals:
 Standard setting for most births
 Easy access to emergency care and pain medication
 Disadvantages can be the interruption of natural birthing
process to follow hospital policies

12.  United States is known for having several problems
with their Maternity Care system
 Problems listed area:
 Few women get adequate prenatal care
 Too many women are exposed to the risks of high-tech procedures,
even when they are healthy and unlikely to benefit from them
 Too many women are subjected to these potentially harmful
procedures without giving informed consent.
 Too few women have the benefit of low-tech supportive care
practices that help them safely cope with the demands of
pregnancy, labor and birth.
 Too many women end up with physical and emotional health
problems after giving birth.

13.  Three elements of prenatal care:
 Regular visits with your provider (midwife, doctor)
 Taking care of yourself
 Care received from support systems (friends, family,
others)
 What to expect from prenatal care:
 Health assessments from providers
 Making plan of labor, birth and postpartum recovery and
adjustment to mother-hood
 Not all prenatal care is the same it depends on your
provider
 During regular prenatal visits you can expect:
 Measuring of your weight and blood pressure, listening to
the baby’s heartbeat and growth of the baby

14.  Prenatal testing gives information about a mothers
health
 Some tests that are done are:
 Regular blood tests to determine:
 Anemia, HIV, Keep track of sugar levels
 Vaginal Culture (approx 1 month before due date):
 GBS a naturally bacteria formed by women can make some babies ill
 Tests for Fetal Impairments:
 3 types of tests:
 Genetic Carrier testing
 Blood test to see if you or your partner carrier genetic diseases
 Screening tests:
 Like ultrasounds, “maternal marker” blood tests
 Diagnostic tests:
 Yes or no answers. (Examples amniocentesis)

15.  High risk pregnancies:
 People with these conditions can be considered high
risk:
 Diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy, autoimmune
disorders, HIV, or heart or kidney diseases
 Pregnant and parenting teens
 Pregnancy in your late thirties or forties
 Overweight or obese individuals
 Experience abuse of violence during pregnancy
 This happens to 1 in 6 women during pregnancy
 Having physical, intellectual or psychiatric disabilities
 Addictions: Drugs, alcohol, tobacco
 Having a previous cesarean section

16.  Plan for pain management
 Medication
 Doulas: give continuous support during labor, usually
reduces the need for medication
 Know where your support team will come from and
who they may be
 Prepare for breastfeeding if you have chosen to
 Question:
 Why does the United States have the most problems with Maternity
care? Should we make providers spend more time during prenatal
visits?