Two Texas hospitals performed episiotomies at rates four to six times the recommended level last year. But women giving birth should know: You have the final say.
Myeshia is a married, 34-year-old cis Black queer woman with a PhD. Two weeks after giving birth to her first child in a Southern California emergency room, things take a turn for the worse.
The US has the highest maternal death rate of any developed nation. California is trying to do something about that.
“Have a plan, but expect to ditch it,” a news mentor drilled into my head 25 years ago. “If you’re well prepared but open to wherever the story leads you, the journalism gods will reward you.”
Christin Farmer knew she wanted to help women have babies at 16, when she watched an episode of TLC's "A Baby Story" and saw a midwife with a birthing center delivering babies.
"I had to come to accept that the hospital wasn’t looking at me as a whole person — just a combination of vital signs, lab work, symptoms, and medical and nursing orders," writes Joy Victory.
One writer shares her story of how the health care system missed repeated warning signs of preeclampsia while giving birth to her daughter. She later found her medical record was rife with mistakes and omissions.
There is a lot of public data on maternal health and New York City hospitals. WNYC's Fred Mogul makes sense of it so families can find the best hospital for them.
New York City health officials are watching childbirth rates across the city — and trying to find ways to lower the risk for the most vulnerable group: African-American women.
There’s a safety gap in New York City hospitals that puts the lives of black women at much greater risk than white women. Experts say better hospital culture can reduce the risks.
