HB 1133 Needs Your Support!

After watching Pregnant in America, seeing the rates of Cesarean Sections and the risks associated, HB 1133 is even more important to support in its process through the legislature. 

Just a few days ago HB 1133, The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Board Act, was still pending a hearing. Well now the hearing has officially been set for Wednesday, May 4th at 8:00am in Room E2.012 at the Texas Capitol. Please show your support for The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Board Act either by testifying or filling out a witness affirmation card in favor of HB 1133.


Plan Your Visit to The Capitol Here--free parking for the first 2 hours!

Thank you women's health advocate and fellow UT MSSW student, Gabby Rivette, for bringing this update to my attention! Watch Gabby Rivette, Chelsea Pattillo and Mary Roberts's inspiring video here.

Pregnant in America

Pregnant in America is a wonderful film documenting the dangers of childbirth within the American medical system.  An expectant mother and father take the viewer on an emotional journey through their first pregnancy and the discoveries they make along the way.  This film is highly recommended for everyone--those pregnant, trying to become pregnant, planning to one day become pregnant, or with pregnant loved ones.

As a woman, I have always felt pretty terrified of childbirth.  I think of pain, epidurals, surgery, hospitals, prolonged labor and recovery time, and even death.  This film has educated me about the natural process of giving birth and I now realize that what I am terrified of is not pregnancy and labor, but putting my pregnancy at the will of doctors who are more concerned about productivity and efficiency than a healthy delivery.  


Women have been giving birth since...well, forever!  So why treat pregnancy like a disease or sickness requiring hospitalization?  Embrace your pregnancy and strive for a natural birth.  


I hope this film touches your soul and enlightens your mind as much as it did mine.
Pregnant in America brought to you by Hulu

PREP for the Future

In the midst of the family planning budget debate, there is available funding for family services that has taken a backseat. Texas policymakers must decide on whether to apply for a grant through the Administration for Children & Families under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) by the end of the month. A article in the Statesman reports that the $9 million would be awarded simply if Texas asks for it, and it would not cost the state government anything. Texas is currently one of seven states that has not applied for the grant money.

Perhaps the reason that Texas has not yet applied for the grant is because of the shift away from the Title V-Abstinence Only Program. Texas applied for Title V programs the last two years, and publicly prioritizes abstinence only education in all public arenas. Unlike previous funded mandates, PREP is the first comprehensive sex education program. It includes information about contraceptives and STDs in addition to abstinence.

PREP implements evidence-based teen pregnancy programs, which analysts believe will have a 2:1 return for every dollar, possibly preventing thousands of teen pregnancies (Thomas, 2011). These programs are in dire need as Texas has the third highest teen birth rate and the highest repeat teen birth rate in the nation (Thomas, 2011).

You may take personal steps to advocate for the application of this grant  You can also contact the Governor's Office or call 202-419-3420 to speak with Advocates for Youth. It is also important to mention that the PREP grant does have a provision that community organizations may apply for a sub-grant if the state does not apply in the first two years. Therefore, please contact any relevant organizations to get the ball rolling on grant applications.

Family Planning Cuts Disproportionately Affects Latina Women

Sofia Resnick of the American Independent recently wrote an article on the impending family planning cuts. Her article suggests that the proposed cuts would disproportionately affect low-income Latinas' access to reproductive care.

Such budget cuts will perhaps affect Texas more than any other state. Latino's currently make up more than 37% of the Texas population. Patricio Gonzales, CEO and President of the Hidalgo County Planned Parenthood Association, believes that the impending cuts would force him to close 8 of his 10 clinics, affecting approximately 18,000 women (and their families). These women will then be denied low-cost contraception, gynecological exams, testing for STDs and family-planning education (Resnick, 2011).

The same budget cuts would subtract around $500 million from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, which provides federal grants to states for health care referrals, nutrition education for low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding programs, and nutrtion assistance for children up to 5 years old (refer to the earlier post "Barriers to Prenatal Care" for more information about WIC). This compounds the problems that will low-income Latina women will encounter to find healthcare services, deleting another avenue to care for themselves and their children.

It is obvious that these cuts would block another resource for low-income ethnic minority women, only exacerbating their ability to receive adequate healthcare. What may be framed as "necessary budget cuts" can also be interpreted as a discrete form of institutional racism. This becomes another obstacle towards social mobility and instead encourages the cycle of poverty. Healthcare services are necessary to prevent further health complications for mothers and their children. Prenatal care, family planning, and cancer screenings are effective preventative measures which will eventually save our nation and state large sums of money. Legislators fail to realize that continued "band-aid solutions" will not allow the wound to heal.

Click here for the full article

To learn more about health issues for Latina Women, go to the National Latina Institute for Latina Health website.

Finally Some Good News...Maybe

Weeks after the Texas House's Republican supermajority passed a budget bill stripping family planning of $60 million in funds, Sommer Ingram from the Associated Press reports that the Senate retaliates with a new budget proposal. The Senate budget is comprised of $11 billion more than the House's and appropriates an adequate amount to family planning.  The current Senate budget has been approved by the Finance Committee and the bill will be voted on later this week.  

Still, conservatives are sure to put up a fight. As leader of the House Democrats, Jessica Farrar says, "It's not about policy, it's not about women's health -- everything is about abortion for them." This comment is particularly poignant in the current political climate. There are a plethora of important women's health policies that should be discussed, but instead 95% of attention has gone to abortions. Ironically, less than 5% of clinics' services actually go towards abortions--not to mention 0% of government funds.

Hyper-focused ideologically influenced policy is a parasite sucking energy away from improving women's health on a national and local level.  With greater importance placed on the well-being of an unborn fetus than that of its mother, what happens when these children are born to women who have not had access to regular cervical, breast cancer, and STD screenings?  

Thank you Texas senators for supporting family planning and reproductive health!  

Updates will be coming soon on the voting outcome of the new Senate budget.

Read full article here

Barriers to Prenatal Care

A 2010 study entitled, "Initiation of and Barriers to Prenatal Care Use Among Low-Income Women in San Antonio, Texas" assessed the barriers to prenatal care for a particular population in Texas.   Prenatal care has proven to reduce maternal, fetal, perinatal, and infant deaths (Sunil, Spears, Hook, Castillo, & Torres, 2010). Therefore, this article advocates for the implementation of early prenatal care for all women.

Research indicated that the initiation of prenatal care did have an effect on the likelihood of high-risk pregnancies. Those least likely to initiate prenatal care were less educated, living alone, or did not plan their pregnancies. These women explained that service barriers were the most significant factor affecting the decision of low-income women to initiate prenatal care (Sunil, Spears, Hook, Castillo, & Torres, 2010). Service barriers include transportation, delays in appointments, long waiting times, and childcare. Surprisingly, the study did not find a correlation between financial barriers and personal barriers to affect initiation of services. Therefore, improved service accommodations such as transportation assistance, childcare on site, and quicker appointment opportunities may encourage women to prepare for birth at an earlier stage, ultimately improving the health of the mother and child.

The study did find a difference of initiation for women enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. These women were more likely to begin prenatal care early in their pregnancy, and were at a lower risk for pregnancy complications (Sunil, Spears, Hook, Castillo, & Torres, 2010). Breastfeeding incentives and counseling offered by the WIC program have proven to be effective preventative measures to ensure the chances of a healthier pregnancy.

Click here for the full publication.

Sunil, T.S., Spears, W.D., Hook, L., Castillo, J., Torres, C. "Initiation of and barriers to prenatal care use among low-income women in San Antonio, Texas." (2010). Matern Child Health J, 14:133-140.

Ability to Breastfeed on the Decline

An article in the San Antonio Express News, written by Richard Marini, highlights the taboo nature of breastfeeding in American culture. While some women choose not to breastfeed their infants, others  are simply unable to due to a variety of medical reasons. Numerous studies have proven that a mother's milk is the best nutrient for babies, and especially so for premature new-borns. That being said, Marini informs that "fewer than half of mothers to premature infants are able to supply sufficient milk for their babies" (Marini, 2011). With a demand for breast milk high and the supply low, many milk banks have popped up locally. Austin's Mother's Milk Bank supplies milk to 57 hospitals in 10 states and screens milk for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Milk is then pasteurized to kill any bacteria or viruses, and recipients are charged $4.20 an ounce. Some mothers in need of breast milk choose to buy milk from women independently and at lower costs, but here the risks are higher. If a child gets sick from the milk both purchaser and supplier are put in dangerous legal positions. Breast milk banks appear to be a valuable resource to both recipient and provider.

Read full article here