Risks+of+Motherhood+in+Poverty.

====Their are many risks involved in motherhood even in the best of circumstances due to medical problems and other such things. However women who live life in poverty have many more issues that can arise. Such things as infant mortality, low birth-weight, obesity, asthma are just a few problems mothers who have children wile living in a life of poverty. Not only are the children at risk the mothers face major heath risks as well from infectious diseases, malnutrition, illness, medical issues due to lack of heath care and sexually transmitted disease. Not only are medical issues a large risk of mothers but mental issues can play into a pregnancy as well such as depression one of the most common illness among the women stuck in poverty with studies showing it can have great affect on the growth and devopment of a child. ====

Women all of over the world experiences different hardships throughout pregnancy, but women living in poverty or near poverty are the most likely to experience these hardships. Some hardships that women experience during pregnancy include divorce, domestic violence, homelessness, job loss, and an inability to pay bills, among other things. According to a study done by Paula Braveman during pregnancy, "around 60% of low-income (poor or near-poor) women experienced at least one hardship" (Braveman 20). As income for the future mother increased the chances of experiencing any hardships decreased. A better support system for pregnant women would be helpful. By supporting the mother during her pregnancy, the welfare of the child she is carrying is also supported. Having a healthy pregnancy is important for both the lives of the mother and the baby. Many of the mothers living in poverty that experience hardships during pregnancy already have at least one other child. It is especially important for the mother to be healthy enough to take care of both herself and her child/children. There is even more reason to have support programs for pregnant women who have other children, because the children have a right to mature to their full potential regardless of their economic background.

http://news.change.org/stories/poverty-makes-motherhood-a-depressing-experience
==== Braveman, Paula. "Poverty, Near-Poverty, and Hardship Around the Time of Pregnancy." // Maternal & Child Health Journal // 14.1 (2010): 20-35. // Academic Search Premiere //. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. []. ====

Another risk faced by women living in poverty who are pregnant is giving birth to children who have low birth weights. Very low birth weights and very high birth weights are very dangerous and harmful to these children and will often times lead to serious diseases and dysfunctions as the children grow up. Children of women living in poverty are especially vulnerable to being born with very low birth weights. James W. Collins Jr, Jennifer Wambach, Richard J. David, and Kristin M. Rankin conducted a population-based study in the United States where they statistically determined the percent of all low birth weights based on the living condition which the mother lived in prior to giving birth. At the conclusion of their study they determined with 95% confidence that the rate of non-Latino women who were living in low-income neighborhoods gave birth to children with a low birth weight was 10.1%. On the other hand it was determined that the low birth weight rate of non-Latino white women who lived in high-income areas was 5.1%.

Women who experience motherhood while in poverty has always happened and it has been determined that the best thing for these women to do in order to begin to pull themsleves out of poverty is to obtain a job which can be used to slowly gather money and lift the women and her children from poverty.

Source: Collins, W. James et al. "Women's Lifelong Exposure to Neighborhood Poverty and Low Birth Weight: A Population-Based Study". Maternal Child Health J (2008). Springer Science+Business Media. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Web. 6 May 2011.

Lieb, Hilarie and Thistle, Susan. “The Changing Impact of Marriage, Motherhood and Work on Women's Poverty ”. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy. (2005). Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Web. 7 May 2011.