The Culture War Between Doctors And Midwives, Explained

Editor’s Note: Kindred has covered the need for a Midwives Model of Care in the United States for over 15 years. We’ve also pointed out this issues as a prime example of the Bio-Cultural Conflict faced by Western parent. Kindred World, our parent nonprofit, has shared stories from our origins as an underground homebirth community when midwifery was illegal in some states (listen to the origin story here). That ProPublica is now spending a good amount of time and money to present this issue twenty years later is wonderful for all future generations.

About The Video

A deeper look at history explains why when it comes to midwife use, the US falls behind other affluent countries.

Despite spending more per capita on health care than any other country, the U.S. has the highest rate of deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth in the industrialized world. But what makes maternal healthcare in other affluent countries look so different than the U.S.? Among other things, midwives. Midwives in the U.S. participate in less than 10 percent of births. But in Sweden, Denmark and France, they lead around three quarters of deliveries. In Great Britain, they deliver half of all babies, including all three of Kate Middleton’s. So if the midwifery model works for royal babies, why not our own? Check out the video above to find out how midwives have been at the center of a culture war that’s deeply rooted in race and class in America.

Read the ProPublica piece here.

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