Amazing documentary tonight on BBC1 at 10.35pm - Four Born Every Second - a kind of global OBEM

[MmeLindor]

Here

I saw a preview today and it is both shocking and inspiring.

287,000 women die from pregnancy related causes every year, 99% of them in developing countries.

The film shows the difference between UK and US births and those in Cambodia and Sierra Leone.

It does contain quite distressing scenes of still birth, so maybe not for you if you are currently pregnant.

I blogged about it today (link on profile) to give you an idea what it is about and will be watching again tonight.

[MmeLindor]

The MSF project featured is really interesting.

They estimate a cost of about £1.70 per inhabitant of Sierra Leone would provide emergency obstetric care, which would lower the maternal mortality by up to 74%.

[farrowandballs]

I am definitely going to watch this!!!

[MmeLindor]

Another half hour.

Get your tissues out

[MmeLindor]

Anyone watching?

Farrow
would be interested in your opinion about the programme.

[honeytea]

I'm watching, I'm 37 weeks pregnant and crying already, I'm not sure it's such a good idea to watch it!

[MmeLindor]

One in eight women in Sierra Leone die in childbirth. It is tragic, isn't it?

[MmeLindor]

oh, Honey. I will warn you that there are some distressing scenes.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Oh my word.

[OliviaMumsnet]

Oh my word indeed

[MmeLindor]

It is really harrowing. And so sad that the baby might have survived, if she had access to medical care.

[ggirl]

god we're so lucky aren't we

[OliviaMumsnet]

Interesting about uSA

[Meglet]

Watching. Those poor women and babies.

I am so utterly grateful we have our health service.

[MmeLindor]

We really are, ggirl.

I watched the programme this afternoon, but am shocked anew tonight.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

So US is about the divide?

[honeytea]

Goodness I am not going to complain about all the appointments you have ot go to when pregnant :(

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I do feel a bit like a spoilt brat now having refused to go for a growth scan in late pregnancy.

[MmeLindor]

This little boy is so amazing.

[honeytea]

Starlight I am feeling like that about my birth plan, I have written stupid things on it like "please don't tell me what colour my baby's hair is" it is so irrelevant.

[MmeLindor]

US is interesting because their births are v medicalised, with more interventions, they have higher incidence of obesity and more people without healthcare (who then don't go to prenatal checks). All adds up to higher mortality rates than anywere else in developed world.

[KnockMeDown]

That woman - her courage is humbling and heartbreaking...

[OliviaMumsnet]

I knew they were medicalised but hadn't thought about the obesity issue and the £££ of prenatal checks

[MmeLindor]

Don't feel guilty, Honey and Starlight. It is not till we watch something like this, that we realise how fortunate we are.

Love that they are showing so many babies bfing.

[MmeLindor]

I have some links for further reading, if anyone is interested. Will look them out later.

[ggirl]

Oh My God
a ruptured uterus