Minors pregnant care

When a woman is expecting - getting prenatal care is one of the most important factors in having ...  More »

When a woman is expecting - getting prenatal care is one of the most important factors in having a healthy baby. Doctors say a andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/north-dakotaandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;North Dakotaandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt; law is keeping them from helping certain mothers. A 16-year-old girl thinks she's pregnant - but is not ready to tell mom and dad. andamp;quot;Physicians only have one choice currently - to refuse care and send them on their way,andamp;quot; said Bruce Levi of the ND Medical Association. That's why OB-GYN's are pushing to change the law they say it's a sad day when they can't help a teenage mother who's too scared to share her news with her parents. The bill says a minor can get a pregnancy test and prenatal care without her parents consent. andamp;quot;In most cases - minors do involve parents,andamp;#226;andamp;#8364;andamp;#157; said Dr. Jerry Obritsch, an OB-GYN at Mid Dakota Clinic. andamp;#226;andamp;#8364;andamp;#339;There are those who do not. These are the minors we need to provide the care for.andamp;quot; And those girls are out there - Dr. Obritsch says he deals with this issue monthly. In 2007, almost 200 babies were born to moms under 18. andamp;quot;This bill is about getting the best care for an unborn child and her mother,andamp;quot; said Dr. Sherry Orser, OB-GYN Medcenter. Orser says 40% of teenage moms start prenatal visits late - most hold out until they can not hide it any longer. Orser: andamp;quot;Some don't come in until in labor and have received no care. 60% of mortality if no prenatal care.andamp;quot; Those who oppose the bill say - teenage mothers should get care - but it should not be kept from parents. andamp;quot;If you don't notify parents, it sends the wrong message unintentionally that this is okay,andamp;quot; said Nadia Smetana. Dr. Bill Schuuh says the bill takes away a parents' rights. andamp;quot;This is a family crisis and we're being told that parents do not need to be told,andamp;quot; said Dr. Bill Schuuh. The bill also gives pregnant minors the right to make their own decision on pain management. Dr. Orser says one 16-year-oldandamp;#226;andamp;#8364;andamp;#8482;s mom would not let her daughter get an epidermal because she wanted to punish the girl for getting pregnant. Similar bills have came up in the past two sessions.  « Less