I was reading an article that ranked USA 169th in infant mortality rates, and was surprised that America is far behind other developed nations. I'd like to hear some thoughts on this from American nurses working in this area as to why.
The article suggested that part of the reason had to do with so many births being induced to fit into a schedule, and it was ultimately tied into saving money.
It's the first I've heard anything about this, so your thoughts welcome.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
My 2pence:
I don't think it's a lot to do with saving micro-preemies. All the technology we have, they also have in all the other industrialized nations that have much better neonatal outcomes than we have in the US.
Does a high c/s rate matter? I don't know - look at Brazil's neonatal mortality rate. Is it a lot higher than ours? I do find it interesting that children born from C/S are at greater risk of obesity, diabetes and asthma, due to their different gut microbiome, compared to their lady partslly delivered counterparts.
I believe it's a combination of factors that other people have mentioned, but mostly due to wealth disparities which result in scant prenatal care, and our high maternal obesity rates (obese women give birth to sicker babies, generally speaking).
And this will probably not be a popular thing to say, but here is where I admit that after having worked where I have worked the past two years, I have gone from being vocally pro-choice, to being pro-abortion. I am doing my best to de-stigmatize abortion so that more girls and young women feel safe enough to choose it, rather than bringing another baby into the cycle of poverty.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Sorry to interject. I am quietly stalking this thread, but.. what do you mean by crunchy? Is that a nursing term? :what:
No, crunchy is short for "crunchy granola" - hippie-dippie earth mothers who breastfeed forever, have home births, feed their babies organic homemade baby food, etc. (btw, I'm only mocking a little because that describes me, although I've gotten less crunchy as I and my kids have gotten older)
No, crunchy is short for "crunchy granola" - hippie-dippie earth mothers who breastfeed forever, have home births, feed their babies organic homemade baby food, etc. (btw, I'm only mocking a little because that describes me, although I've gotten less crunchy as I and my kids have gotten older)
Clearly, the slang of this generation escapes me. The other day, someone told me not to be "so salty"... Whatever that means.
I don't think it's a lot to do with saving micro-preemies. All the technology we have, they also have in all the other industrialized nations that have much better neonatal outcomes than we have in the US.
That's why I'm hoping to hear from our European peers. I don't know if they actually do attempt to save
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
That's why I'm hoping to hear from our European peers. I don't know if they actually do attempt to save
Where are you EU and other nurses?
A quick google states that the European Association of Perinatal Medicine categorizes age of viability at 22 weeks, same as in the US. If you google "age of viability in Europe" the very first link brings you to a very interesting Word document that discusses it.
I really don't believe there's a huge disparity between the US and most European nations with regards to attempts to resuscitate micro preemies.
A quick google states that the European Association of Perinatal Medicine categorizes age of viability at 22 weeks, same as in the US. If you google "age of viability in Europe" the very first link brings you to a very interesting Word document that discusses it.
I really don't believe there's a huge disparity between the US and most European nations with regards to attempts to resuscitate micro preemies.
I agree with you but I still think it would be interesting to talk to the people that are actually doing it.
It would be wonderful if some of our European counterparts would jump in and let us know how things are done across the pond.
Well, I'm a Swedish nurse and the most recent stats for infant mortality rate I've found are from 2013. The mortality rate for infants under one year old was 2.6 per 1000 live births.
All infants born from week 22 + 0 are considered viable and their births are recorded in the official records. The records include both live births and stillborn infants.
Since C-sections have been mentioned in this thread, our national average is 17%.
Since we do have universal healthcare all mothers receive prenatal check-ups and district nurses or nurse midwifes make home visits after the baby is born. Most lady partsl deliviries are performed in hospital by nurse midwifes. Physicians normally only get involved if there are complications or of course, if a C-section is deemed necessary.
Paid maternity and/or paternity leave is 18 months per child. You are also allowed a total of 120 paid days per year if you have to stay at home from work to care for your sick child until the child turns twelve. After the child's twelfth birthday you can be granted more days in special circumstances.
There are probably many different reasons why our infant mortality is lower than it is in the US, but my personal theory is that equal access to healthcare for all has an effect on the numbers.
Thanks for that macawake. Universal Healthcare. This may make the biggest difference. Your maternity and sick child benefits are amazing. Do you have a lot of pre-natal drug use in Sweden?
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
My 2pence:
I don't think it's a lot to do with saving micro-preemies. All the technology we have, they also have in all the other industrialized nations that have much better neonatal outcomes than we have in the US.
Does a high c/s rate matter? I don't know - look at Brazil's neonatal mortality rate. Is it a lot higher than ours? I do find it interesting that children born from C/S are at greater risk of obesity, diabetes and asthma, due to their different gut microbiome, compared to their lady partslly delivered counterparts.
I believe it's a combination of factors that other people have mentioned, but mostly due to wealth disparities which result in scant prenatal care, and our high maternal obesity rates (obese women give birth to sicker babies, generally speaking).
And this will probably not be a popular thing to say, but here is where I admit that after having worked where I have worked the past two years, I have gone from being vocally pro-choice, to being pro-abortion. I am doing my best to de-stigmatize abortion so that more girls and young women feel safe enough to choose it, rather than bringing another baby into the cycle of poverty.