I came across this link today while reading a letter in the New York Times. I do know about femal genital mutilation, but I did not know about this tragic complication of unattended childbirth, particularly in Ethiopia and, in fact, all over Africa.
I was dumbfounded. These poor women----young girls, actually. We take so much about safe childbirth for granted. In fact, for a long time (particularly in the '60s and '70s) there was a movement aspousing "natural" childbirth done in the squatting position---"you know, the way women in Africa do it---then they go right back to work in the fields, baby strapped to their back." Little did they know the complications that often developed, whether or not the baby was even born alive.
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Sure, since age can be a cause of cephalopelvic disporportion. But with good obstetrical care, this wouldn't be an issue. It's very sad.
exactly. How many 12, 13 year olds do we see having babies, who do well THANKS to comprehensive and decent medical/prenatal care? It makes all the difference.
exactly. How many 12, 13 year olds do we see having babies, who do well THANKS to comprehensive and decent medical/prenatal care? It makes all the difference.
I know what you mean. A lot of people nowadays forget that women used to die ROUTINELY in childbirth. Access to a trained birth attendent is just too important to overstate. My dream is to actually become a CNM and work overseas one day.... Course, not until my dear dog dies because he can't come with me and he'd die if I left him at home....
Genital mutilation doesn't cause fistulas. It's the unobstructed labor that causes a fistula.
Again, from the above website:
Q: I heard that fistulas are a result of female genital mutilation. Is this true?
A: While harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) are rightly of concern to the international medical community, they are not major contributors to the development of an obstetric fistula. Some patients at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital have been victims of FGM, but their fistulas are almost always caused by an obstructed labor resulting from a too-small pelvis or a malpresentation of the baby. FGM does not "cause" a fistula
True, a main cause of fistulas is obstructed (I think you had a typo using the word "unobstructed") anyway, obstructed labor is a cause of fistulas - however, genital mutilation can cause extensive scarring that can result in an obstructed labor. Often times these women that are able to deliver lady partslly tear horribly as the head comes through the scar tissue or have an extensive episiotomy cut. So, genital mutilation can indirectly lead to these fistulas. SG
fergus51
6,620 Posts
Sure, since age can be a cause of cephalopelvic disporportion. But with good obstetrical care, this wouldn't be an issue. It's very sad.