93. How America is Failing Mothers: Part 3

Motherhood Meets Medicine

Lynzy Coughlin

Medicine, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness

5 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 December 2022

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today’s episode is part three in our series about how America is failing mothers. Be sure to tune in to part one and part two if you haven’t already. All three episodes of this series feature real stories from mothers in America. These stories are deeply personal, and show how many things need to change in order to support mothers and their families. The stories that you’ll hear in part three include first hand accounts of mothers who lost their jobs and healthcare while pregnant, were left in a financial crisis due to lost income and high daycare costs during (and after) COVID, lacked emotional and physical support postpartum, and more. Unfortunately, you or someone you know may have connections to these stories. Having a baby, and expanding your family, should be a joyful time. Instead it often turns into some of the most difficult days, months, and years of your life, leaving moms feeling abandoned, inadequate, anxious, and depressed. This is why it’s so important to continue having these conversations and working together to make real change for the future. In this episode we discuss: Major challenges that a mother of triplets was faced with during pregnancy and after giving birth. The many things wrong with the postpartum questionnaire that moms fill out during their six week check-up. The negative effects that these challenges can have on a marriage. Lack of support for new moms from medical professionals, even after asking for help. The financial burden that families go through without paid maternity leave (childcare, formula, diapers, etc.). Discount code from my sponsors: Save 20% off at checkout when you use code ‘lynzy’ at bombas.com/lynzy. Connect with Lynzy: Join the Motherhood Meets Medicine community at patreon.com/motherhoodmeetsmedicine Instagram: @motherhoodmeetsmedicine Sign up for the weekly newsletter here lynzyandco.com Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It's time to explore. This is your opportunity to discover what's out there for you
0:04.6	and realise what you are made to do. It's time to achieve, learn more, realise your potential
0:10.6	and become who you are made to be. It's time to create, make new friendships, discover
0:16.2	new passions and become the best version of you. It's time to discover Oxford Brooks University.
0:24.0	Join us on an open day. Visit OxfordBrooks.ac.uk to find out more.
0:30.0	When the babies were born at 32 weeks, I spent just about two weeks recovering
0:37.0	and spending time with them in the NICU. And then I went back to work just about two weeks
0:43.0	after my C-section. And I was still on painkillers and I was still extraordinarily swollen.
0:50.0	I couldn't work closed shoes still. It was a hard time and I remember that my route
0:56.0	to the office would take me by the hospital and I would drive by the hospital where they were.
1:01.0	My babies and I would just sob. I would just sob my way to work because I just was so sad
1:10.0	and angry that I couldn't be there with them, that I couldn't afford to be there with them.
1:15.0	It just felt really wrong. It was hard. And, you know, I really looked back on that
1:21.0	and I still feel like I was robbed of time, if that makes sense.
1:35.0	Hello, everyone. Today's episode is a bit different than usual.
1:38.0	I wanted to give women this space to talk about how America is failing mothers.
1:43.0	And I had an outpouring of mothers reaching out to share their experience.
1:46.0	When it comes to motherhood in America, it does seem that we are working against the grain and not with it.
1:52.0	Whether we talk about the lack of maternity leave, the lack of health insurance options,
1:56.0	and significant financial burden after birth, the infant and maternal mortality rates,
2:02.0	the disproportionate rates in which black women and women of color suffer from complications
2:07.0	when compared to white women, lack of childcare options, and the significant cost of childcare,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Lynzy Coughlin, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Lynzy Coughlin and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.