Doctober’s call for change: A documentary film examines the state of maternal care in the U.S.
[Updated Oct. 8, 2024]
October in Bellingham brings more than just golden leaves and the university buzz on the hillside: it’s also time for Doctober, the largest documentary festival in the Northwest, hosted by the Pickford Film Center. By the end of the first week, 12 films will have graced the screen, along with four Q&A sessions with filmmakers and community members.
During this season of change, Doctober showcases a powerhouse lineup of trailblazers striving to make the world different in their own creative way. One standout of this year’s lineup is “American Delivery,” a film produced and directed by Carolyn Jones, which delves into the high maternal mortality rates in the U.S. and highlights how nurses, doulas, doctors and mothers strive to make change. On Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m. “American Delivery” will showcase these stories, giving audiences a glimpse into the efforts aimed at saving new mothers’ lives across the country.
A crisis for American mothers
“American Delivery” follows a range of healthcare providers — nurses, doulas and midwives — working to lower maternal morbidity rates in the U.S. The film features a series of successful births that result from when holistic care are implemented in the birthing process — while also educating viewers as to why things go wrong and what can be done to improve maternal outcomes.
According to the Lost Mothers project by investigative journalist Nina Martin, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent countries. In fact, more women have died in childbirth than in combat during wars. While countries like the UK, Portugal and Canada have seen a decrease, the U.S. rate remains three times higher than that of the next closest country. Black women are particularly at risk, being three to four times more likely to suffer from maternal morbidity than white or Hispanic populations.
The film poses the question, why are maternal morbidity rates so high in America? This can be traced back to the 1950s, when American medical practices shifted to a more technology-oriented approach to the birthing process. This led to a reduced focus on maternal symptoms and a growing reliance on technology to keep pregnancies on a tight schedule. The focus and trust in technology resulted in the dismissal of symptoms being vocalized by patients.
One heart-wrenching example featured in the film is the story of Lauren Bloomstein, a natal nurse and doctor’s wife, who died from untreated preeclampsia after the birth of her baby. Despite clear signs of the condition in her chart, her pain and symptoms were ignored. Instead she was given an antacid. As her symptoms worsened, she was not treated properly, resulting in her death. As Martin reports, 60% of these deaths are preventable, and the healthcare system’s focus on babies often leaves mothers without proper care.
Holistic care and the power of listening
“American Delivery” advocates for holistic maternal care and emphasizes listening to patients as solutions to lowering preventable maternal morbidity. This approach to medicine takes into account the financial, cultural, communal and mental needs of the patient, in addition to the physical conditions in which they give birth. “I wish we could create a system that’s not a medical system, it’s a care system,” Martin says in the film. “We wouldn’t just save lives because we would be recognizing physical symptoms and giving women medicine. We would be saving lives because we would be giving help and nurturing.”
North Sound Accountable Community of Health (North Sound ACH) is presenting “American Delivery” at Doctober. North Sound ACH is a regional nonprofit organization working within Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties which aims to develop a community-based approach to healthcare, much like the one audiences see in the documentary. According to North Sound ACH CEO Liz Baxter, “Health systems are part of a larger ecosystem of community, and being able to connect patients to trusted resources in their communities is critical.” North Sound ACH connects parents to vital resources that address not only the medical needs but also cultural and emotional ones. as well, “Our goals are grounded in principles of tribal sovereignty, equity, belonging, the vital conditions for well-being and leading with love,” Baxter said. [Ed.: An earlier version said North Sound ACH works out of Bellingham; their workforce works remotely throughout the region.]
A call for change and hope
While “American Delivery” does not shy away from the tragedies of maternal deaths, it also offers hope. The documentary invites audiences to witness as nurses, doulas and midwives across the country are stepping up to change the system by embracing holistic, community-based care. The film delivers a dose of hope for what maternal health could look like in America.
By Mickey Mann
Salish Current is a media co-sponsor for Doctober 2024. Stop by and say hello at these screenings:
- “Searching For Amani,” Oct. 7
- “Black Box Diaries,” Oct. 12 and 17
- “Climate Restorers,” Oct. 14
- “Rainier Beer Odyssey,” Oct. 14 and 18
- “Fish War,” Oct. 19 and 21