Thread: NC: Hispanic births reach 50% at UNC Hospital

By Remy Scalza : The Herald-Sun
chh@heraldsun.com
Jan 2, 2008

CHAPEL HILL -- By On the fifth floor of the N.C. Women's Hospital, high above the streets of Chapel Hill, is a window on the state's future.

Behind a thick pane of glass -- inside the nursery of the maternity ward -- sleep tomorrow's Tar Heels, wrapped in blankets and tucked safely in plastic bassinets.

And, on most days, about half of these babies are Hispanic.

North Carolina has undergone brisk demographic change in recent years. From 1990 to 2006, the Hispanic population increased from 76,726 to 597,382, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanic enrollment in public schools jumped by more than 1,000 percent in that time.

But maternity wards across the state have seen some of the most dramatic changes. Hispanic births have increased 11 times over since 1990. Last year, one of every six babies born in North Carolina was Hispanic.

Women's Hospital in Chapel Hill has been an epicenter of this baby boom. With a well-developed system of obstetrical clinics in the region, the hospital absorbs births from neighboring counties with sizeable Hispanic populations. Official figures from 2005 show 37.4 percent of babies born at the hospital were Hispanic.

"It's actually more around 50 percent these days," says Carolyn Viall, director of nursing. "And that's been rising."

Behind the statistics, however, lies another story. At the same time many state agencies are working to weed out undocumented immigrants, Women's Hospital has found ways to reach -- and embrace -- a growing segment of North Carolina's population.

Across town from the hospital, Molly -- 32 and originally from Mexico -- is busy. Two months have passed since she delivered her baby at Women's Hospital, and she's back to work watching children in Chapel Hill.

Molly is in the final stages of getting a green card and asked that her last name not be used. Her 2-month-old is her second child born in the United States. She plans one more.

The recent growth in the Hispanic population only partly explains the increase in Hispanic births. The other piece of the puzzle is fertility rate, the number of live births per every 1,000 women of child-bearing age. Statewide, Hispanic mothers have a fertility rate more than double that of the general population, according to 2006 figures from the state Center for Health Statistics.

A relatively young Hispanic population, plus taboos about birth control and limited use of family-planning services, contributes to the difference, according to a report from the N.C. Office of Minority Health.

"The Latina community has a very strong orientation toward babies, toward children," explained Merry-K. Moos, a professor at UNC's School of Medicine and nurse practitioner. "It's very much a culture that reveres pregnant women."

Hispanic births have contributed to an unprecedented surge in deliveries at Women's Hospital. In 2006, 1,000 more babies were delivered than just five years before.

These extra births have stretched hospital resources, Moos explained. But Hispanics are only part of the equation, she said:

"Do we have increasing strain? Yes. Do we have increasing strain for a lot of reasons? Yes."

The general population of the state has grown dramatically, with Hispanics accounting for less than one-quarter of total growth since 1990. At the same time, Women's Hospital has been busy promoting its state-of-the-art maternity center to expectant moms.

These moves have led to growing pains at Women's Hospital. The nursery in the maternity ward, opened in 2001, is already at capacity and slated to expand from 15 cribs to 24.

Peering inside the nursery, Viall pointed to one of the new Hispanic babies. The tiny child's bassinet had been wheeled under a special colored spotlight to help with a mild case of jaundice. Glowing a deep blue, he looked more Smurf than newborn.

"The biggest adaptation for us has been understanding that Latinas don't want to stay here a long time," Viall explained. "They want to get back with the community and family resources they have."

Women's Hospital has adapted to extend its reach into that community. A system of 17 affiliated clinics in Orange and neighboring counties enables most Hispanic moms to get their prenatal care close to home.

Adriana, a Chatham County mom originally from Mexico, was treated at the Carrboro Community Health Center during her pregnancy. Prenatal patients there pay a flat fee of $30 per visit and are charged on a sliding scale for blood tests and other extras.

Because she's undocumented, Adriana -- like many Hispanic moms -- wasn't eligible for Medicaid.

Doctors diagnosed Adriana with gestational diabetes, a form of the disease that develops during pregnancy and is common in minority populations. Diet and treatment kept it in check, and last March Adriana gave birth to a healthy boy.

But things don't always go so smoothly. A week after her due date, Molly was still waiting to have her baby. Concerned, she came to Women's Hospital for a sonogram.

Molly brought her husband -- who speaks English and Spanish -- to help translate. The hospital also has more than a dozen professional interpreters on staff, with two on call at the maternity ward. Doctors and nurses have likewise appended Spanish classes to medical studies.

Molly's baby's heart was beating too slowly. Doctors said they would have to induce labor.

Once she was in labor, another problem developed: The baby was in breech position. Late that night, doctors decided to perform a Caesarean section.

In the end, she had a healthy 7-pound, 2-ounce baby girl.

After the birth of Molly's daughter, a new problem loomed: the bill.

The average cost of a Caesarean birth with complications in North Carolina is $16,651, according to an estimate from Blue Cross and Blue Shield. While Medicaid and private insurance normally cover these costs, most undocumented immigrants are uninsured.

Although Molly had paid down her prenatal bills, the cost of the delivery was out of reach.

But, like all uninsured moms who give birth in the U.S., Molly was eligible for a program known as emergency Medicaid. Coverage applies only to emergency conditions and is used in North Carolina primarily for labor and delivery costs. Emergency Medicaid is available to anyone -- regardless of immigration status -- whose income falls below state limits.

For deliveries, all families earning up to 185 percent of the federal poverty limit, which comes to around $38,000 for a family of four, are fully covered. Medicaid picked up Molly's tab.

Back in the maternity ward of Women's Hospital, another busy day was under way.

Nursing director Viall rounded a corner and stopped next to a bulletin board crowded with thank-you notes from new mothers to the hospital staff. Some were in English. Many were in Spanish.

"Thanks a lot for your atención," one note read. "God bless to everyone."
http://www.heraldsun.com/orange/10-911931.cfm?

People tend to start having their babies when they feel that their income level can duplicate the standard of living they had themselves experienced as children. If you are an American in a trade over run with a large number of competing workers under bidding you it is hard to feel comfortable. If you are a recent immigrant coming from an underdeveloped country even if you are making less than the trade used to pay but more than your parents made it is relatively easy.

We have to get rid of Weasley.. He has turned N.C. into a disaster area.

But, like all uninsured moms who give birth in the U.S., Molly was eligible for a program known as emergency Medicaid. Coverage applies only to emergency conditions and is used in North Carolina primarily for labor and delivery costs. Emergency Medicaid is available to anyone -- regardless of immigration status -- whose income falls below state limits.

For deliveries, all families earning up to 185 percent of the federal poverty limit, which comes to around $38,000 for a family of four, are fully covered. Medicaid picked up Molly's tab.

I have a problem when programs like these are used by illegal aliens. They shouldn't even be here. How many of them actually earn incomes ABOVE poverty level?

To bad many American's can't afford the same privilege as affording to have children. With insurances not paying much and hospitals overcharging people to make up for the cost of illegals free healthcare. A friend and co-worker of my sons girlfriend had a baby with health problems they had insurance and it still cost them 7,000 so far. An illegal came into to her work showing pictures of his new baby. He said he went back to Mexico to get his wife as she was pregnants brought her back to N.C. to deliver the baby because the Hospital is free and the best care and the baby would be American. This illegal makes more than the guy with insurance according to his co-worker. While he still has enough money to send home to support his family in Mexico. They wonder why the American people get upset? They have the nerve to call it prejudice?
When its just common sence to many who actually see whats going on. Of course its going to cause hard feelings!

Originally Posted by Dianne

We have to get rid of Weasley.. He has turned N.C. into a disaster area.

We need to work hard to vote in a new governor that will help! NC was such a wonderful place when we moved here. Massive Illegal Immigration has changed it so much for the worse.

quote:

"The Latina community has a very strong orientation toward babies, toward children," explained Merry-K. Moos, a professor at UNC's School of Medicine and nurse practitioner. "It's very much a culture that reveres pregnant women."

Yea, it's also a culture that relies upon the citizens of this country to pick up the tab. I virtually get sick to my stomach every time I read a story about some liberal lunatic gloating over all the illegal invaders dropping anchor in every city across this country.

Ironically, I'm a college graduate who cannot afford to have one child and yet I have to subsidize the illegal invader in so they can have as many anchors as they choose!

Where are my elected officials that swore to protect the interests of American Citizens when they took office? To uphold the laws of this land.

I'm sick of this *&^%!

"all families earning up to 185 percent of the federal poverty limit, which comes to around $38,000 for a family of four, are fully covered. Medicaid picked up Molly's tab."

So I guess a family of four who are American Citizens making $40,000 and who actually pay taxes and have to document their income would get stuck with the overwhelming medical bills that delivering a sick child would bring. They would also have to fight with their insurance carrrier and hope they would pick up some of the tab. Essentially the American family is left to fend for themselves because they are considered well off making $40,000 per year.

Meanwhile an illegal invader who probably makes atleast $35,000 under the table, payes no taxes qualifies for the motherload in medical benefits and all other social benefits makes out like a king.

NoBueno if that $35000 head of household had remained where he was he would be making from $3500 to $7000 a year with no free or minimal public services.

The title of this thread should be "tax payers in North Carolina fund ethnic cleansing." In reality this is what is taking place. Coming to a state near you.