In the United States, the joy of childbirth can sometimes turn tragic. Matthew Okula faced a heart-wrenching choice. Doctors rushed his wife, Hailey, to the ICU right after delivering their son, Crew, via C-section. Matthew had to decide whether to stay with his newborn or follow Hailey. He chose to race to the ICU, where he watched doctors perform chest compressions on Hailey. Sadly, Hailey, known as "Nurse Hailey" online, passed away from a rare condition called amniotic fluid embolism, or AFE. This happened after a long fertility journey that included IVF.

The U. S. has made strides in helping women grow their families, but the healthcare system has not kept up in protecting pregnant women. Maternal mortality rates have improved slightly, dropping from 22. 3 to 18. 6 deaths per 100, 000 live births in 2023. However, this improvement does not apply to everyone. Black women face a maternal mortality rate 3. 5 times higher than their white counterparts. The U. S. still lags behind other wealthy countries in this area.

Childbirth should not be a frightening experience. Dr. Kisha Davis, a family physician, expresses concern about the risks faced by Black women during pregnancy. She believes that modern healthcare should have advanced enough to eliminate these dangers. Most maternal deaths are preventable. Access to good prenatal care, insurance, and healthy food can make a big difference. Chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, along with advanced maternal age, increase the risk of complications.

The risk of chronic conditions rises with age, which might explain why more women are having children later in life. Older age also increases the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, and other pregnancy complications. Vaginal delivery is generally safer and has a quicker recovery time. Repeated C-sections can lead to complications from scarring.

IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies are becoming more common. The number of babies born through IVF increased from about 91, 700 in 2022 to over 95, 800 in 2023. IVF can increase the risk of multiple births and placental abnormalities. Carrying more than one baby raises the risk of other pregnancy complications. Fertility clinics should aim to prevent multiple pregnancies by limiting the number of embryos transferred. The main factors driving maternal mortality rates are access to proper prenatal care, insurance coverage, and nutritious foods, as well as the management of chronic diseases and advanced maternal age.

Hailey and Matthew's journey with IVF was challenging, but they finally announced their pregnancy. Hailey had access to excellent care and was healthy. Obstetricians say AFE is often just bad luck, and there is little that can be done to prevent it. Matthew hopes sharing Hailey's story will raise awareness about maternal health. He finds comfort in talking about Hailey with his son, Crew, keeping her memory alive through their quiet moments together.

The Hidden Dangers of Modern Childbirth

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