When you think about it, we all agree!
When you think about it, we all agree!
As more attention continues to be paid by the media and others to the issues surrounding the birth of healthy babies, it’s easy to pull back and look at the dollars and cents, or the various policies that could be applied. The further we delve into the intellectual debate, the harder it is to remember that there is one basic concept that all people from all sides of all issues can whole-heartedly support: we’d rather see a baby born healthy than one born with preventable health issues that may affect them for a lifetime.
In fact, the question itself seems silly. Do you want babies that are born to be as healthy as possible? No one says no to that question. Of course we’d all prefer that every baby born anytime, anywhere be healthy and endowed with as good a chance as anyone else to live a happy, successful and fulfilled life. Duh, right?
Most people would also agree that access to prenatal care is probably the best chance babies have to be born healthy. It’s common sense that lack of prenatal care poses a higher risk to the health of the mother and of the baby, and that’s before anyone breaks out the stacks of studies to back it up.
No doubt it’s easier to make policy or calculate the spreadsheet if you don’t allow yourself to see each baby as a precious bundle of potential that you can’t help but smile at when you see them in a restaurant, or in a stroller at the mall. As long as you don’t let yourself dwell on the hardship the lack of prenatal care can create – emotionally, spiritually and financially — to both the baby and the family, you can debate fiscal responsibility and immigration and the welfare system and all of the other issues that may come into play.
But remember that when it comes right down to it, we all agree:
Babies born in Nebraska are an integral part of Nebraska’s future.
We want all babies to be born healthy.
We realize that the best chance a baby has to be born healthy is when the mom – no matter her age, race, income level or citizenship status – does everything she possibly can during her pregnancy to protect and nurture her baby.
We know that doctors and nurses are experts in how to do help babies be born healthy. They can spot potential complications and treat mother and baby with the best medical care, helping baby be born as healthy as possible.
We understand that limited or non-existent prenatal care increases the risk that the baby will not be born as healthy as they can be.
Seems pretty simple, don’t you think?
photos compliments of http://tammymueckephotography.com
March 8th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Please read Robert Nelson’s column in the OWH, 3/8/10. It seem our governor would rather pay for care after birth than before birth. “Direct health care costs increase by at least $2,300 during the first year of life of a baby whose mother did not receive prenatal care.”(Robert Nelson) Of course, Heineman says that NE will not pay for it. SO….when the family shows up in our hospital’s emergency care unit, just who will pay?
June 9th, 2010 at 9:03 am
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