Comments on: The best and worse countries for mothers & children http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/ Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:11:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Mendy http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89423 Mendy Sat, 10 Dec 2005 01:16:21 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89423 Phyllis, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Phyllis, I’m sorry that you had to go through that.

]]> By: Radfem http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89413 Radfem Fri, 09 Dec 2005 22:27:10 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89413 <blockquote>So, is the treatment of mothers and children in America based on race? I'm the wrong mother to ask. I'll let the infant mortality data stand on its own merit. </blockquote> The data does stand on its own. It's appalling. I don't know what we can do about racism in other countries, but we could do more in the U.S. Phyllis, I'm sorry you went through what you did.

So, is the treatment of mothers and children in America based on race? I’m the wrong mother to ask. I’ll let the infant mortality data stand on its own merit.

The data does stand on its own. It’s appalling.

I don’t know what we can do about racism in other countries, but we could do more in the U.S.

Phyllis, I’m sorry you went through what you did.

]]> By: Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » Roe v Wade and Infanticide http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89323 Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » Roe v Wade and Infanticide Fri, 09 Dec 2005 10:51:28 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-89323 [...] TWO AFTERTHOUGHTS: It's impossible to intelligently discuss infanticide rates in the USA without at least nodding to the racial differences. As I've pointed out in the past, blacks in the USA are in effect living in a third world nation, when it comes to infant and maternal mortality. [...] […] TWO AFTERTHOUGHTS: It’s impossible to intelligently discuss infanticide rates in the USA without at least nodding to the racial differences. As I’ve pointed out in the past, blacks in the USA are in effect living in a third world nation, when it comes to infant and maternal mortality. […]

]]> By: Thierry Wasserman http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-288 Thierry Wasserman Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-288 The ranking seems a little meaningless as a lot of countries are missing from the list. I first looked at the places I'm from, Belgium and Israel, and they're not there. France? Spain? Portugal? Nope. Therefore looking at the ranking seems useless. The data itself is pretty interesting; Particularly the relative high mortality and low contraceptive use in the states. The ranking seems a little meaningless as a lot of countries are missing from the list. I first looked at the places I’m from, Belgium and Israel, and they’re not there. France? Spain? Portugal? Nope. Therefore looking at the ranking seems useless. The data itself is pretty interesting; Particularly the relative high mortality and low contraceptive use in the states.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-289 Jackie Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-289 I am interested in knowing the 4 best and the 4 worse countries in the world. Thank you for all the good and valuable information. Jackie I am interested in knowing the 4 best and the 4 worse countries in the world.

Thank you for all the good and valuable information.

Jackie

]]> By: quality kingdom http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-290 quality kingdom Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-290 I agree!! Thank you for all the good and valuable information. It has been very helpful. Keep up the good work! I agree!! Thank you for all the good and valuable information. It has been very helpful. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Jackie Bhagat http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-291 Jackie Bhagat Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-291 I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in. I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in.

]]> By: Jackie Bhagat http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-292 Jackie Bhagat Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-292 I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in. I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in.

]]> By: Jackie Bhagat http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-293 Jackie Bhagat Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-293 I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in. I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in.

]]> By: Jackie Bhagat http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-294 Jackie Bhagat Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-294 I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in. I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in.

]]> By: Jackie Bhagat http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-295 Jackie Bhagat Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-295 I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in. I would like to know which are the 4 worse and the 4 best countries in the world to live in.

]]> By: Phyllis Scott Ajisafe http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-296 Phyllis Scott Ajisafe Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-296 I agree with the author of the report on a personal level as I am the mother of three deceased infants: in 1982, 8.5 months gestation stillborn twins and four years later a daughter delivered by C-section who lived 19 hours. Was everything done to save them? I am black; my doctors were white--I think not. When one twin (Baby B) died shy of 2 weeks due date, the obstetrician refused to deliver the viable twin. Feeling doomed, we tried desperately to get another doctor to intervene--not knowing why Baby B died--however, the next day, Baby A's heart was no longer beating. Was race a factor in the medical inattention I was receiving? I was made to carry them until delivery which occurred on their due date two weeks later. It was a strange bit of irony to learn that doctors of a same community will not intercede. And all are loathe to testify against each other in court. There's more. Days after delivery, and back at home I suffered a postpartum hemorrhage and nearly died. I believe--because the obstetrician left afterbirth in my womb. But the hospital lab analysis wouldn't attest to that. You know the adage "they tend to bury their mistakes." I did not get immediate attention because my doctor was on a fishing trip. I was in the hospital but no other doctor would perform the D&C to stop my bleeding. I could have bled to death but...they were going to wait for my doctor. I know--it's unbelievable. After awhile the nurses on the floor stopped coming to my room to change the padding that was soaked with blood. They left pads with my mother and my husband and we were basically on our own. I wasn't in the bushes! I was in a catholic hospital in Upper Montclair, NJ! Four years later with the advantages of a bit more money and better insurance didn't make a difference as to life or death of my next baby. I had a team of high risk pregnancy doctors (all white). I lived in a predominately white upper middle class New Jersey community which boasted one the best neonatal units in the country. Yet, when my premmie was in trouble, they couldn't save her, though their reputation was sterling. They came to my bed with "we did everything we could." But we're not in Nigeria! my heart railed. Or even Newark (NJ) where infant mortality is so high...its repeatedly reported in the newspapers and requires medical investigations. And we weren't in the "boondocks" as I had been assured over and over. Yet they gave my baby a blood transfusion which, in the absence of my husband, they pressured me to sign the permission form after ascertaining where or not I was lucid following my c-section. What year is this? Who is the President? they asked and I supposed I answered correctly. They said they needed to do it to save her life. Not many hours later, my sweet, defenseless baby was dead. A year later, my OBGYN, who had diagnosed my second pregnancy and sent me to the specialists said my baby probably died from shock; that her tiny system couldn't withstand the blood transfusion. Twenty years later, I still don't understand what the blood transfusion was for. I remember a foreign pediatrician coming to my room (I believe she was from India) saying to me that my baby's lungs were too small to breathe on her own. But she was hooked up to breathing tubes. She was in an incubator. I still wonder why they didn't wait for my husband to sign that permission slip. He was after all on his way back to the hospital. Not that I'm a pushover, but he was from Nigeria and suspicious of Americans and would have insisted on a full medical explanation. Pros and Cons. And if he was not satisfied with answers, the procedure would not have happened. Let the chips fall where they may. No matter what I thought. He was obstinate that way. So, if we had been a white couple, would they have waited and discussed the blood transfusion with both of us? So, is the treatment of mothers and children in America based on race? I'm the wrong mother to ask. I'll let the infant mortality data stand on its own merit. I agree with the author of the report on a personal level as I am the mother of three deceased infants: in 1982, 8.5 months gestation stillborn twins and four years later a daughter delivered by C-section who lived 19 hours. Was everything done to save them? I am black; my doctors were white–I think not. When one twin (Baby B) died shy of 2 weeks due date, the obstetrician refused to deliver the viable twin. Feeling doomed, we tried desperately to get another doctor to intervene–not knowing why Baby B died–however, the next day, Baby A’s heart was no longer beating. Was race a factor in the medical inattention I was receiving? I was made to carry them until delivery which occurred on their due date two weeks later. It was a strange bit of irony to learn that doctors of a same community will not intercede. And all are loathe to testify against each other in court. There’s more. Days after delivery, and back at home I suffered a postpartum hemorrhage and nearly died. I believe–because the obstetrician left afterbirth in my womb. But the hospital lab analysis wouldn’t attest to that. You know the adage “they tend to bury their mistakes.” I did not get immediate attention because my doctor was on a fishing trip. I was in the hospital but no other doctor would perform the D&C to stop my bleeding. I could have bled to death but…they were going to wait for my doctor. I know–it’s unbelievable.
After awhile the nurses on the floor stopped coming to my room to change the padding that was soaked with blood. They left pads with my mother and my husband and we were basically on our own. I wasn’t in the bushes! I was in a catholic hospital in Upper Montclair, NJ! Four years later with the advantages of a bit more money and better insurance didn’t make a difference as to life or death of my next baby. I had a team of high risk pregnancy doctors (all white). I lived in a predominately white upper middle class New Jersey community which boasted one the best neonatal units in the country. Yet, when my premmie was in trouble, they couldn’t save her, though their reputation was sterling. They came to my bed with “we did everything we could.” But we’re not in Nigeria! my heart railed. Or even Newark (NJ) where infant mortality is so high…its repeatedly reported in the newspapers and requires medical investigations. And we weren’t in the “boondocks” as I had been assured over and over. Yet they gave my baby a blood transfusion which, in the absence of my husband, they pressured me to sign the permission form after ascertaining where or not I was lucid following my c-section. What year is this? Who is the President? they asked and I supposed I answered correctly. They said they needed to do it to save her life. Not many hours later, my sweet, defenseless baby was dead. A year later, my OBGYN, who had diagnosed my second pregnancy and sent me to the specialists said my baby probably died from shock; that her tiny system couldn’t withstand the blood transfusion. Twenty years later, I still don’t understand what the blood transfusion was for. I remember a foreign pediatrician coming to my room (I believe she was from India) saying to me that my baby’s lungs were too small to breathe on her own. But she was hooked up to breathing tubes. She was in an incubator. I still wonder why they didn’t wait for my husband to sign that permission slip. He was after all on his way back to the hospital. Not that I’m a pushover, but he was from Nigeria and suspicious of Americans and would have insisted on a full medical explanation. Pros and Cons. And if he was not satisfied with answers, the procedure would not have happened. Let the chips fall where they may. No matter what I thought. He was obstinate that way.

So, if we had been a white couple, would they have waited and discussed the blood transfusion with both of us?

So, is the treatment of mothers and children in America based on race? I’m the wrong mother to ask. I’ll let the infant mortality data stand on its own merit.

]]> By: sarah http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-297 sarah Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-297 Yes, I believe that the treatment of both women and children are based a lot on race. This is because there is so much racism in this world, and sadly, we can't really do anything to make it go away. Yes, I believe that the treatment of both women and children are based a lot on race. This is because there is so much racism in this world, and sadly, we can’t really do anything to make it go away.

]]> By: john http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-298 john Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2003/05/13/the-best-and-worse-countries-for-mothers-children/#comment-298 to sarah- agreed to sarah-

agreed

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