Percentage of births to unwed mothers WAY up!

Growing number of births to unwed mothers in US raises concerns

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A recent federal report showing a rise in U.S. births in 2007 also revealed another statistic: 40 percent of the births were to unwed mothers. That statistic did not go unnoticed, especially by Catholic leaders who stress that the church's teaching emphasizes the important link between marriage and parenthood. According to the report, issued in late March by the National Center for Health Statistics, 4.3 million babies were born in 2007 -- more than in any other single year in U.S. history. The number of births to unwed mothers reached its highest level at more than 1.7 million. Although 25 percent of these births were to teen mothers, the rest were to women in their 20s through their 40s. The data reflect an overall trend and something society has come to accept more than it did in previous generations, said S. Philip Morgan, a sociology professor and fertility researcher at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

http://www.georgiabulletin.org/world/2009/04/03/US-3/

And how many of these unwed mothers were here illegally, and the only way they can get public assistance is for the benefit of the anchor babies? More anchor babies means more money.

You know, I was thinking along those same lines myself and I started investigating. I began to wonder about percentage increase in births to unwed couples compared to demographic tables that might show estimated density of undocumented migrants (illegal immigrants) in any given area. That I thought, could possibly shed enough light on the subject to make a reasonable guess as to the extent of such a problem. I had difficulty locating the statistics I was seeking, but I came across something similar that I think could serve as illustration to support the concept.

Let's first look at this chart for Arizona, year 2000.
(Source: http://www.azdhs.gov/plan/report/ahs/ahs2000/pdf/237t5b14.pdf )





OK, now let's look at a map of Arizona and see if the counties with the highest number of births to unwed mothers might potentially indicate there is a relationship between the geographic saturation of illegals and the rise in births. Without further data on the actual illegal alien numbers for each county all we can do is hazard an educated guess, but I don't think the conclusion is going to surprise anyone once they compare the chart to the map.




It bears mention that while on the extreme southern border with Mexico, Cochise County had a surprisingly lower number of births to unwed moms. That is likely a result of the difficult terrain and the high number of previous deaths resulting from crossing illegally on foot through that part of the Arizona desert. It is simply too dangerous for expectant mothers and that may be the reason the statistics appear to be skewed for that particular region. With that exception, I think it is pretty convincing that the "anchor baby" theory has merit!

Anyone have any comparative charts for North Carolina? Let's look at those in like manner if you can find them.

Pondering this subject brought to mind a report from last year that also figures into this analysis. It is posted below. If anyone has this years numbers please post them here too...

Hispanic births reach 50% at UNC

By Remy Scalza : The Herald-Sun
Jan 2, 2008

CHAPEL HILL - 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?

All I want to see is a redefinition or refinement of the 14th Amendment. It may have been applicable in the days it was written, but the situation has changed beyond what the founding fathers (dealing with sparse population and borders in flux) could have imagined.
This country grew up, all the way to the Pacific Coast and we paid Mexico for the southwest and Spain gave us Florida after there was no treasure to be found and the territory could not be defended with all that coastline. (Spain first gave it to England, who gave it back.) There was also the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from the French and Seward's folly (Alaska, bought from Russia in 1867). In all these cases cobbling together a new nation, the 14th Amendment was very important making sure we were unified as Americans and that the new generations would be part of the country, not French, Russian or Spanish, but American.
The situation has changed and the concept of Americanism is not needed, as we support the entire world, and will give more support to illegal parents with anchor babies. Two kids? Not so much money, but five or six, you get rich! And you can't get deported because it is cruel to split families. Citizenship? Nah. Following immigration laws? Why bother?
With apologies for the tirade, but very few things rile me up than having to press 1 for English, or having to call the manager at the grocery I can walk to because few employees know what yeast is, and I don't know the word in Spanish. This is my country and we speak Ingles!

Read more on this topic here:

http://www.14thamendment.us/articles/anchor_babies_unconstitutionality.html


Here's an informative clip on today's 14th Amendment debate.



You can also learn more about this issue at:

http://www.capsweb.org/content.php?id=427&menu_id=14