*Content warning: birth trauma, medical trauma, medical neglect, racism, death of an infant, infant loss, death, homicide, maternal loss, mature and stressful themes, sexual assault, disordered eating. *Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: somethingwaswrong.com/resources Sources: American College of Nurse Midwives https://midwife.org/ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) https://www.acog.org/ Authorities explain lack of charges in Fort Mill birthing center death https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article23277849.html Births in the United States, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db477.htm A brain-dead woman's pregnancy raises questions about Georgia's abortion law https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5405542/a-brain-dead-womans-pregnancy-raises-questions-about-georgias-abortion-law A Brief History of Midwifery in America https://www.ohsu.edu/womens-health/brief-history-midwifery-america Constructing the Modern American Midwife: White Supremacy and White Feminism Collide https://nursingclio.org/2020/10/22/constructing-the-modern-american-midwife-white-supremacy-and-white-feminism-collide/ The Controversial Birth of American Gynecology https://researchblog.duke.edu/2023/10/27/the-controversial-birth-of-american-gynecology/ Direct Entry Midwives Across the Nation https://www.networkforphl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Direct-Entry-Midwives-50-State-Survey.pdf FDA raids Miami birth center; Placentas, medical records confiscated https://mommyblawg.blogspot.com/2009/01/fda-raids-miami-birth-center-placentas.html Fort Mill birthing center closes following third child death https://www.wbtv.com/story/28083972/fort-mill-birthing-center-closes-following-third-child-death/ Exhibit Recognizes African American Midwives https://infocus.nlm.nih.gov/2010/02/05/exhibit_recognizes_african_ame/ Health E-Stat 100: Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2023/maternal-mortality-rates-2023.htm#:~:text=In2023%2C669womendied,rateof22.3in2022 Hemolytic disease of the newborn https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001298.htm The Historical Significance of Doulas and Midwives https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-significance-doulas-and-midwives Home Births in the U.S. Increase to Highest Level in 30 Years https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20221117.htm Honest Midwife Blog https://honestmidwife.com/ International School Of Midwifery https://www.mapquest.com/us/florida/international-school-of-midwifery-531273160 March of Dimes https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/about-us March of Dimes, Delivery Method https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?dv=ms&lev=1&obj=9®=99&slev=1&stop=86&top=8& March of Dimes, Maternity Care Desert https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?top=23 Maternal Mortality in the United States After Abortion Bans https://thegepi.org/maternal-mortality-abortion-bans/#:~:text=InthefirstfullyearofTexas%27sstateabortionban,15 Maternal Mortality: How the U.S. Compares to Other Rich Countries https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2024-06-04/how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-rich-countries-in-maternal-mortality Medical Exploitation of Black Women https://eji.org/news/history-racial-injustice-medical-exploitation-of-black-women/ National Midwifery Institute https://www.nationalmidwiferyinstitute.com/midwifery Necrotizing Fasciitis https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23103-necrotizing-fasciitis New Pregnancy Justice Report Shows High Number of Pregnancy-Related Prosecutions in the Year After Dobbs https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/press/new-pregnancy-justice-report-shows-high-number-of-pregnancy-related-prosecutions-in-the-year-after-dobbs/#:~:text=Thereportdocumentsthati,%2Cpregnancyloss%2Corbirth. North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) https://narm.org/ Physician Suicide https://www.acep.org/life-as-a-physician/wellness/wellness/wellness-week-articles/physician-suicide Preeclampsia https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17952-preeclampsia Preeclampsia: Signs & Symptoms https://www.preeclampsia.org/signs-and-symptoms Race Maternal Mortality in the U.S.: A History of Midwifery https://wmberks.pages.wm.edu/2023/04/30/race-maternal-mortality-in-the-u-s-a-history-of-midwifery/ The Racist History of Abortion and Midwifery Bans https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/the-racist-history-of-abortion-and-midwifery-bans Reasons Obstetricians Are At High Risk For Claims Of Medical Malpractice https://www.gilmanbedigian.com/reasons-obstetricians-are-at-high-risk-for-claims-of-medical-malpractice/#:~:text=Overall%2Cabout85%25ofOB,about95%25ofthetime. The Regulation of Professional Midwifery in the United States https://midwife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jefferson-2021-Regulation-Professional-Midwifery.pdf She said she had a miscarriage — then got arrested under an abortion law https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2024/abortion-law-nevada-arrest-miscarriage/ She was accused of murder after losing her pregnancy. SC woman now tells her story https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/23/health/south-carolina-abortion-kff-health-news-partner South Carolina Department of Public Health, Midwifery Licensing https://dph.sc.gov/professionals/healthcare-quality/licensed-facilities-professionals/midwifery-licensing#:~:text=DPHlicensesmidwivesinaccordancewithRegulation,inadditiontootherprescribedrequirementson State investigating Dallas birth center and midwives, following multiple complaints from patients https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/state-investigating-dallas-birth-center-midwives-following-multiple-complaints-from-patients/287-ea77eb18-c637-44d4-aaa2-fe8fd7a2fcef The State of Reproductive Health in the United States https://thegepi.org/state-of-reproductive-health-united-states/ Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report 2024 https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/legislative/2024-Reports/MMMRC-DSHS-Joint-Biennial-Report-2024.pdf Uses of Misoprostol in Obstetrics and Gynecology https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2760893/ Vicarious trauma: signs and strategies for coping https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/vicarious-trauma/vicarious-trauma-signs-and-strategies-for-coping Vital Signs: Maternity Care Experiences — United States, April 2023
Full Episode
Something Was Wrong is intended for mature audiences. This season contains discussions of medical negligence, birth trauma, and infant loss, which may be upsetting for some listeners. For a full content warning, sources, and resources, please visit the episode notes.
Opinions shared by the guests of the show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of myself, Broken Cycle Media, and Wondery. The podcast and any linked materials should not be misconstrued as a substitution for legal or medical advice. Origins Birth and Wellness owners and midwives Caitlin Wages and Gina Thompson have not responded to our requests for comment.
Additionally, midwives Jennifer Crawford and Elizabeth Fuel have also not returned our request for comment. This season is dedicated with love to Malik. Hey friends, thank you so much for your patience while the team and I prepared for this season's finale. And thank you to all who have reached out to share their perspectives with us this season.
Mutual respect and open dialogue is always welcome here at Something Was Wrong. From the beginning of the season, survivors have continually expressed one of the reasons they sought midwifery care to begin with was because they had poor experiences in traditional medical settings or worried about poor outcomes in a hospital due to the United States maternal health care crisis.
Therefore, I've felt since the beginning it's also important to include the reasons why survivors had valid concerns about delivering in hospital settings due to this ongoing and well-documented maternal health care crisis. The survivors' fears are shared by many Americans and backed by lots of data.
As we've heard from experts this season, the United States has significantly higher rates of maternal deaths when compared to other high-income countries. According to the CDC, in 2023, 669 maternal deaths were reported, equating to a rate of 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births. And it's important to also note that in the United States, the vast majority of births occur in hospitals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, there were approximately 3.67 million births nationwide. Of these, about 98% took place in hospitals, while around 2% occurred in out-of-hospital settings such as homes or freestanding birth centers like Origins Birth and Wellness. Specifically in 2021, there were 51,642 reported home births, making a 13% increase from 2020.
This rise followed a 19% increase from 2019, indicating a growing interest in home births during that period. And while hospital births remain predominant in the United States, there has been a gradual increase in out-of-hospital births, particularly home births, over recent years.
Given the maternal health care crisis in hospital settings, families are increasingly looking to freestanding birth centers as an alternative. March of Dimes reported in 2024 that over 35% of counties in the U.S. are maternity care deserts and are home to more than 2.3 million women of reproductive age.
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