Mortality Rate of California Pregnant Women Has Tripled

In the biggest spike in pregnancy-related deaths since the 1930s -- yep, that's Great Depression era we're talking -- the mortality rate has almost tripled in the last decade. As the California Watch article points out, it's now "more dangerous to to give birth in California than it is in Kuwait or Bosnia."

Thus far, the Department of Health has declined to release the report on pregnancy mortality rates, citing a need for further revisions. But the initial findings were reported at a conference in 2007, and researchers say the public needs to know about this trend now, and fixes must be made.

So what's to blame for the sudden increases? In the past, some have alleged that improvements to death certificate reporting had given an artificial appearance of greater deaths. But estimates find that not even a third of the spike can be attributed to administrative reporting changes. Instead, people are looking cross-eyed at the C-section, which has become the most common surgical procedure in the U.S.

C-sections have also been a valuable life-saving device in many cases. However, giving birth by C-section can also leave women with a condition that increases the danger of their next label. Doctors say it's difficult to weigh future risks against the immediate benefit of the procedure to the mother and her child. This suggests a need for better research into, and understanding of, the costs and benefits of the procedure, so doctors are better equipped to make that judgment call.

There might be another issue at stake: money. The California Watch article points out that a C-section carries a larger price tag than vaginal birth. Dr. David Lagrew, a medical director at an Orange County hospital, raises concerns about women electing to induce pregnancy without a medical need, indicating that the chance of a doctor performing a C-section double in inducement. Lagrew clarifies that he's not blaming hospitals for purposely encouraging elective C-sections to make profits, but did note that the motive for hospitals to bring in more revenue is strong -- and its non-profit hospitals that have taken the lead in restricting and discouraging elective procedures due to safety concerns.

Overall, the California mortality rate remains small -- 95 deaths out of over 500,000. However, if the state were in line with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' goal to decrease our mortality rates to that of other countries with low rates, the numbers of deaths would have been more like 28. Are those 67 additional deaths -- 67 broken families, 67 tragedies replacing what should have been a joyful birth, 67 loved ones gone -- 67 unnecessary deaths?

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