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Originally Posted by analog
I don't understand the rationale behind universal health care covering elective procedures such as childbirth. Elective = choose to have performed.
Oh no, having a child is expensive! Having a child is a choice. Why would anyone endeavor to have a child and then complain about how expensive they are? It boggles the mind. How about personal accountability where you determine BEFORE you have a baby if you can afford it or not? I know, it's a radical idea. Too many people don't think about the cost until it's on top of them.
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Yes, in a perfect world, having a child WOULD be a choice, but unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world, and sometimes women of less education and fewer economic means find themselves pregnant for what ever reason. For that matter, women with educations and economic means also get pregnant--but they have access to abortion services.
So say you're Mary Sue in South Dakota. You get knocked up because you've never really been educated about sex or birth control, and even if you had been, birth control is hard to come by in your small town. Abortion is illegal in South Dakota. You're up shit creek without a paddle. The average abortion costs $486, and you would have to drive out of the state to get one--if you can find someone to perform the abortion. So what do you do? Have the baby, of course.
No freebirthing necessary here, though, because while Medicaid WON'T pay for abortion services or family planning, they WILL pay for childbirth--provided you show up at the hospital in labor.
Personally, I'm very interested in a more natural birth, and I know I would like to try and give birth in a birthing center instead of a hospital. I really feel like childbirth has become over-medicalized, with people going in for inducements and scheduled c-sections, but there is a line. Women should be giving birth with licensed midwives and should be giving birth in an environment where medical care is close by. Most of the birthing centers here are affiliated with local hospitals and can have doctors paged or have you transported should complications arise. Additionally, they won't take you if they suspect your birthing will have complications--they'll refer you to the hospital, which is as it should be. Trying to do it yourself at home is silly and dangerous.
I know if I am having a boy, I will probably choose the hospital, just because every boy in my family has had to be delivered via C-section. Big boys run in the family!
