Giving birth in Arkansas, especially its rural southeast, comes with more risk and less care. The challenges feel acute for someone like doula Hajime White.
The Mainline Health clinic in Monticello, Ark., provides care in a rural corner of the state, where being pregnant and giving birth can seem especially risky. MUST CREDIT: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post
Arkansas already has one of the nation’s worst maternal mortality rates, and mothers in this area die at a rate exceeding the state average. Ninety-two percent of recent maternal deaths were preventable,abruptly closed their birthing units, sending patients like Sa’Ryiah scrambling to find a new obstetrician.
“If we really say to the world we’re pro-life, we need to put our money where our mouth is and make sure these women are treated and have the care they need,” said Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, an abortion opponent who has led a push for legislation and funding to improve outcomes.This spring, facing pressure from business leaders and the medical community, Republican Gov.
“Tired,” the teen answered, shifting awkwardly in her chair. Her loose black hoodie nearly obscured her belly. “Really ready for this to all be over.”The three, plus White’s daughter, were sitting in the crowded waiting room of Mainline Health, a federally supported health clinic about 30 minutes from Warren. Posters of chubby babies decorated the walls.
Both White and Gwen were relieved that Sa’Ryiah had reached this milestone. The teen’s pregnancy had been difficult, with two episodes of bleeding and emotional turmoil. Things at school were not going well. Friends had abandoned her. Another classmate pushed her to the ground outside school, kneed her in the belly and accused her of not actually being pregnant.
“I was mad, her being so young,” Lawson said. She had gotten pregnant with Sa’Ryiah as a teen and didn’t know how to cope when she suffered crippling postpartum depression. That was not going to happen this time, she vowed. While Sanders didn’t endorse expanded postpartum coverage through Medicaid, she has said she wants to do a better job of educating women before and after giving birth about existing resources and insurance options.
The room smelled like motor oil and rubber, and the front door chirped as customers stopped in for lawn mowers and spare parts. Even at midday, her eyes were bleary from fatigue. She works remotely overnight as a resolution specialist coordinating repairs for Walmart stores and otherwise maintains a fitful sleep schedule to be available if a mom in distress calls.
a community baby shower and “graduation,” even ordering tiny graduation caps and gowns online. Then she drove around town to post fliers and ask for support from local stores. The manager at SuperValu would, she hoped, be among those to say yes.Leslie White, left, with son Ka’Ore, and Gwen White, with daughter Quen, wait with another attendee for the first-year-of-life ceremony to begin.
Baby Kaydence slipped into the world at 4:59 p.m. on March 7 - 7 pounds, 4 ounces, with a full head of hair. Officials at the facility where she gave birth, now called Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County, declined to comment. “I can’t remember the last time I had a patient come in healthy, young, with no medical problems and have a baby and go home,” Worley said. Those she sees routinely suffer chronic health problems, from heart conditions and undiagnosed diabetes to morbid obesity. She says change will take generations.
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