PBS NewsHour Weekend; PBS NewsHour Weekend : KQED : October 13, 2013 5:30pm-6:01pm PDT

♪ >>> ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th, BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. THE BUDGET BATTLE IN WASHINGTON CONTINUES. MORE AMERICANS THAN EVER BEFORE NOW FAVOR THE CREATION OF A THIRD MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY. AND IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, HELPING THOSE MOST AT RISK OF DYING FROM PREGNANCY RELATED COMPLICATIONS.

>> WE DON'T WORK FOR THE HOSPITAL. WE DON'T WORK FOR THE BIRTHING CENTER. WE WORK FOR IT THE WOMAN.

>> NEXT ON PBS "NEWS HOUR WEEKEND." >>> PBS "NEWS HOUR WEEKEND" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, JOYCE V. HAIL, THE WALLACH FAMILY, THE SHERYL AND PHILIP MILLSTEEN FAMILY, ROSLYN P. WALTER. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY -- AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. FROM THE TISH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK. >>> GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR JOINING US. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL SPOKE AGAIN TODAY IN THE LATEST EFFORTS TO AVERT A U.S. GOVERNMENT DEFAULT, AN EVENT SOME WARN COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE WORLD WHICH I. THE DEADLINE TO INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING IS NOW LITTLE MORE THAN 71 HOURS AWAY. TODAY THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ISSUED A NEW WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF A DEFAULT.

>> IF THERE'S THAT DEGREE OF DISRUPTION, THAT LACK OF CERTAINTY, THAT LACK OF TRUST IN THE U.S. SIGNATURE, IT WOULD MEAN MASSIVE DISRUPTION THE WORLD OVER. WE WOULD BE AT RISK OF TIPPING YET AGAIN INTO RECESSION.

>> NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS FALTERED YESTERDAY, SO THE TWO SENATE LEADERS BEGAN TALKS TO TRY TO END THE NOW 13-DAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND TO AGREE ON A PLAN TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING. IN WASHINGTON TODAY, DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED TO PROTEST THE CLOSING OF THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN. A NUMBER OF THEM THEN MARCHED TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THE SENATE WAS BACK IN SESSION TODAY, BUT MANY HOUSE MEMBERS WENT HOME YESTERDAY. THE HOUSE IS NOT EXPECTED TO RESUME BUSINESS BEFORE TOMORROW NIGHT. FOR MORE ON WHAT COULD BE NEXT, WE'RE JOINED BY OUR POLITICAL EDITOR. LET'S START WITH THAT PROTEST WE JUST MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO. THERE WAS A PICTURE IN "THE WASHINGTON POST." WHY IS THIS PROTEST GETTING TRACTION?

>> YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES REALLY PUSH THE IDEA THAT BLAMING PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR SHUTTING DOWN THIS OPEN-AIR MEMORIAL THAT REALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED PEOPLE AND STAFF TO RUN IT. IT'S SOMETHING YOU SEE TOURISTS VISIT ALL THE TIME IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT'S BECOME THIS FLASH POINT ON THE RIGHT SAYING THAT THEY'VE BEEN BLOCKED. SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE CONSERVATIVES FLOCK TO THAT. IT'S GENERATING A LOT OF ENERGY AMONG HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR WHO SAY PERHAPS THOSE PICTURES, PEOPLE SEE THE CROWDS, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, MAYBE WE'RE ON THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN SIDE ON THIS ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE THE ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING STILL A SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT. IT'S STILL SOMETHING GENERATING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> OKAY. IN REGARDS TO THE NEGOTIATIONS OR THE CONVERSATIONS, SOMEONE MISSING FROM THIS IS VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN. IT WAS JUST LAST DECEMBER THAT HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORCHESTRATING A DEAL WITH MITCH McCONNELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY. SO VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS A SENATOR, SERVED FOR DECADES, KNOWS A LOT OF THE PLAYERS IN THE SENATE VERY WELL AND IS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND BRIDGE DEALS. BUT SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE WARY OF THIS, BOTH FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, WARY THAT WHATEVER DEAL ENDS UP GETTING CRAFTED IS GOING TO HAVE MORE CONCESSIONS TO REPUBLICANS THAN SHOULD HAPPEN. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE PRESSURE. YOU'RE SEEING BIDEN PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY JUST A LITTLE BIT. HE'S STILL BEEN AT THE TABLE WHEN THE PRESIDENT HOSTED ALL FOUR CAUCUSES OVER THE LAST WEEK. BUT HE'S NOT GOING UP TO CAPITOL HILL TO HAVE THESE CLOSED DOOR NEGOTIATIONS LIKE HE DID LAST YEAR. YOU'RE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY'RE NOT COMING UP WITH A DEAL.

>> OKAY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD RAND PAUL SAY THIS MORNING ON THE SUNDAY TALK SHOWS IS THIS SEQUESTER LEVEL, SAYING, HEY, IF YOU WANT THESE CUTS, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON ANY KIND OF REOPENING OF THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE SEQUESTER CUTS ARE BASICALLY KEPT IN PLACE. WHY IS THIS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR HIM?

>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THAT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THE BUDGET AGREEMENTS THAT THEY HAD IN PLACE THAT WOULD ONLY FUND THE GOVERNMENT, BY THE WAY, THROUGH A FEW EXTRA WEEKS. IT'S NOT LIKE A LONG-TERM OR ONE-YEAR PLAN, IT DOES HAVE THE SEQUESTER CUTS IN PLACE. THESE ARE REDUCED LEVELS OF FUNDING WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN PLACE FOR A YEAR, AND IT CONTINUES THOSE ALONG. WHAT RAND PAUL IS SAYING IS THAT HE WANTS TO SEE EVEN MORE CUTS AND WANTS TO ENSURE THOSE CUTS BECOME PERMANENT. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SEQUESTER WAS IT WOULD BE SO PAINFUL IF IMPLEMENTED THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN. IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A YEAR.

>> WE ALSO HEAR A DIFFERENT DATE ON LIFTING THE DEBT CEILING. WHAT ARE THE POLITICS BEHIND IT? WHY DOES ONE SIDE WANT IT TO BE AS EARLY AS THANKSGIVING AND ANOTHER SIDE SAY WHY DON'T WE KEEP IT OFF UNTIL THE END OF 2014?

>> WELL, THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THAT. SENATE DEMOCRATS WOULD PREFER THERE'S ONE VOTE AND THEN YOU DON'T HIT THE DEBT CEILING AGAIN UNTIL AFTER THE MIDTERMS IN THE FALL OF 2014. THERE ARE A LOT OF VULNERABLE SENATE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE FACING EITHER TOUGH CHALLENGES OR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS. IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THIS VOTE AGAIN. I DON'T ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO TAKE THIS VOTE MORE THAN ONCE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOME CONCESSIONS, BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO GET CONCESSIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE, WHETHER THAT'S SPENDING OR TAXES OR THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW. ANY OF THOSE ITEMS. SO RIGHT NOW THE BIG STICKING POINT IS DOES THIS HAPPEN IN A FEW WEEKS? DOES IT HAPPEN IN JANUARY? DOES IT HAPPEN IN A YEAR AND A MONTH? THAT REALLY MATTERS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT FOR TOMORROW MORNING? THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERN THAT THE STOCK MARKET OR FINANCIAL MARKETS COULD REACT ADVERSELY TO THE LAST 24 HOURS, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN POSITIVE. WE'VE ESSENTIALLY SEEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GO ON TV AND SAY THE TALKS ARE STALLED.

>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE WHITE HOUSE. RIGHT NOW SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING THE CHARGE. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AN AGREEMENT WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS. WHAT HARRY REID HAS SAID IS HE REALLY WANTS TO KEEP THOSE CONVERSATIONS GOING AND HE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH MITCH McCONNELL RIGHT WHEN MARKETS OPEN ON MONDAY. EVERYONE IS WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY. THURSDAY IS COMING UP VERY RAPIDLY. THE WAY THAT PROCEDURE WORKS, IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR WHATEVER DEAL THEY COME UP WITH TO ACTUALLY PASS AND MAKE IT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DESK. SO THE CLOCK IS REALLY TICKING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY NERVOUS THIS COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES ON THE ECONOMY, BOTH HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT. CHRISTINA, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS. >>> AND NOW NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. ISRAEL SAID IT HAS DISCOVERED A MILE-LONG CONCRETE TUNNEL EXTENDING INTO THAT COUNTRY FROM THE GAZA STRIP. A TUNNEL ISRAELI OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT HAMAS MILITANTS WERE PLANNING TO USE TO KIDNAP OR KILL ISRAELIS. IN RESPONSE, ISRAEL BLOCKED DELIVERY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS INTO THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORY. >>> AT A CABINET MEETING TODAY, PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CREDITED WHAT HE CALLED ISRAEL'S AGGRESSIVE POLICY AGAINST TERROR FOR LEADING TO THE QUIETEST YEAR IN A DECADE ALONG ISRAEL'S BORDER WITH GAZA. >>> FROM SYRIA TONIGHT WHERE GUNMEN HAVE ABDUCTED SIX RED CROSS WORKERS. THE GROUP WAS TRAVELING IN A CONVOY WHEN THE GUNMEN BLOCKED THEIR PATH, OPENED FIRE, AND SEIZED THEM. THE AID WORKERS WERE RETURNING FROM DAMASCUS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS REBELS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABDUCTIONS. >>> AND STILL MORE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ TODAY. A SERIES OF CAR BOMBINGS AT BUS STATIONS AND IN SHOPPING CENTERS IN XI YIET AREAS OF THE COUNTRY LEFT AT LEAST 31 PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS MORE WOUNDED. THERE WERE BOMBINGS IN AT LEAST EIGHT CITIES. MORE THAN 5,000 IRAQIS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SECTARIAN VIOLENCE BETWEEN SUNNI AND SHIITE MUSLIMS IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. >>> INDIA HAS BEEN SPARED FROM A POWERFUL CYCLONE TODAY. CLEANUP EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY AFTER FLOODING AND OTHER DAMAGE IN COASTAL REGIONS. CROP DAMAGES ARE ESTIMATED AT $300 MILLION. ONLY 14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN YESTERDAY'S STORM BECAUSE OF ITS DECISION TO EVACUATE APPROXIMATELY THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION PEOPLE. >>> ANOTHER POWERFUL STORM IN THE SAME VICINITY IN 1999 KILLED AN ESTIMATED 10,000 PEOPLE. THERE WAS A TRAGEDY IN ANOTHER PART OF INDIA TODAY. AN ESTIMATED 89 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 30 CHILDREN, WERE KILLED IN A STAMPEDE AT A HINDU FESTIVAL. MANY OF THE VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN CROWDED ON TO A BRIDGE WERE CRUSHED TO DEATH, POSSIBLY AFTER RUMORS SPREAD THAT THE BRIDGE WAS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE. OTHERS DIED AFTER PANICKING AND JUMPING INTO THE WATER BELOW. >>> FROM NORTH KOREA TONIGHT, PICTURES OF AN EMOTIONAL REUNION BETWEEN AN IMPRITSZED AMERICAN MISSIONARY AND HIS MOTHER. KENNETH BAE IS HOSPITALIZED IN PYONGYANG FROM COMPLICATIONS RELATING TO DIABETES. HE'S SERVING A 15-YEAR SENTENCE AFTER ADMITTING HE CONDUCTED RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THAT COUNTRY. BAE'S MOTHER SAID HER SON HAS LOST A GREAT DEAL OF WEIGHT SINCE BEING IN PRISON. >>> AND CONFIRMATION TODAY OF WHAT PUNDITS HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG, THAT THERE REALLY ARE NO WINNERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PO POLITICIA POLITICIANS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE PLAYING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S LOTTERY. EVEN THOSE HOLDING WINNING TICKETS WON'T GET PAID. AT LEAST NOT YET. THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY DEPENDS ON CONGRESS TO FUND ITS BUDGET. NO WINNERS, INDEED. ♪ >>> AND NOW TO OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT FEATURING ORIGINAL IN-DEPTH REPORTS FROM AROUND THE NATION AND WORLD. TONIGHT WE LOOK AT A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENSURE HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR BABIES. FOR ALL THE MONEY THE UNITED STATES SPENDS ON HEALTH CARE, THE RATION RANKS NOWHERE NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST IN TERMS OF SAFE DELIVERIES. THAT'S WHY THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT TO GET MORE HELP FOR WOMEN ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR REPORT IS BY "NEWS HOUR" CORRESPONDENT.

>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN IS A RETIRED GRADE SCHOOLTEACHER. BUT SHE'S STILL DISPENSING PLENTY OF INFORMATION. THESE DAYS TO PREGNANT WOMEN.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HEALTHY MOMMY, HEALTHY BABY.

>> Reporter: ON THIS DAY IN EARLY AUGUST, SHE WAS VISITING JESSICA MARSHALL, THEN 7 1/2 MONTHING PREGNANT, AT HER HOME IN BROOKLYN. THEY DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE PRENATAL HEALTH AND A BIRTH PLAN.

>> IF YOU CAN RELAX AND GO INTO THIS, YOU'RE NOT SO AFRAID, YOU'RE NOT SO TENSE. IF YOU'RE TIGHT AND TENSE AND WORRIED, IT SLOWS IT DOWN.

>> Reporter: SHE ISN'T A DOCTOR OR MIDWIFE. SHE'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A DOULA. THAT'S ANCIENT GREEK FOR A WOMAN WHO SERVES. DOULAS SUPPORT PREGNANT WOMEN BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER CHILDBIRTH.

>> BEING A FIRST-TIME MOTHER, I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I COULD. I KNOW THE DOULAS TYPICALLY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MOTHERS' BIRTH PLANS. I WANTED A DOULA THAT WAS SUPPORTIVE OF ME HAVING A NATURAL BIRTH.

>> THE DOULA SERVES THE WOMAN. WE DON'T WORK FOR THE HOSPITAL. WE DON'T WORK FOR THE BIRTHING CENTER. WE DON'T WORK FOR THE MIDWIFE. WE WORK FOR THE WOMAN.

>> Reporter: THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED FOR FREE BACKED BY THE NEW YORK CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IT'S CALLED THE BY MY SIDE BIRTH SUPPORT PROGRAM. IT'S AIMED AT WOMEN LIVING IN LOW-INCOME, LARGELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN BROOKLYN WHERE THERE ARE HIGH INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S LATEST STATISTICS, NATIONWIDE BLACK WOMEN ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF PREGNANCY RELATED COMPLICATIONS THAN WHITE WOMEN. IN NEW YORK CITY IT'S ALMOST SEVEN TIMES HIGHER. AN AVERAGE OF 63 DEATHS PER 100,000 DEATHS FOR BLACK WOMEN COMPARED TO 9 DEATHS PER 100,000 BIRTHS FOR WHITE WOMEN. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE THESE HIGH RATES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY?

>> I THINK HEALTH CARE IN GENERAL IS NOT AS GOOD IN THIS AREA AS IN OTHERS. THE WOMEN HAVE A LOT OF PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, WHETHER IT'S HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ASTHMA, OBESITY, WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTES. THEY JUST MAY NOT BE IN AS GOOD HEALTH.

>> Reporter: MARY POWELL THOMAS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BY MY SIDE BIRTH SUPPORT PROGRAM. IT WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT 3 1/2 YEARS AGO WHEN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WANTED TO ADDRESS A TROUBLING TREND. MANY WOMEN WERE SHOWING UP TOTS HOSPITAL ALONE WHEN THEY WERE READY TO DELIVER. SO FAR THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED MORE THAN 240 WOMEN GIVE BIRTH.

>> IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE A WOMAN WHO WAS EXPERIENCED IN CHILDBIRTH WHO COULD BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE WOMAN.

>> BUT WHY A DOULA? WHY NOT CONCENTRATE ON GIVING THE WOMAN MORE SUPPORT THROUGH HER DOCTOR?

>> IN A LOT OF CASES, THE DOCTOR COMES IN AT THE LAST MINUTE TO DELIVER THE BABY OR MAYBE COMES IN A FEW TIMES TO CHECK ON THE WOMAN BUT THEN GOES OFF TO DO OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE DOULAS WHO, YOU KNOW, ARRIVE IN THE MORNING AND THEY MEET THE MORNING NURSE AND THEN THE NIGHT NURSE AND THEN THE MORNING NURSE COMES BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THE DOULA IS STILL THERE.

>> TRADITIONALLY, WOMEN BIRTH WITH OTHER WOMEN. THE VILLAGE COMES AROUND WHEN A WOMAN'S LABORING. SHE HAS HER MOTHER, HER GRANDMOTHER, HER SISTERS, HER AUNTIES. THEY ENCOURAGE HER. THEY LET HER KNOW SHE CAN DO IT. THEY TELL HER STORIES. THEY LAUGH TOGETHER. THEY CRY WITH HER.

>> Reporter: BUT CRITICS QUESTION WHETHER IT'S GOVERNMENT'S ROLE TO FINANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THESE. DOULA CARE ISN'T REGULATED AND DOULAS AREN'T LICENSED PROFESSIONALS. ALTHOUGH CERTIFICATION IS AVAILABLE, IT ISN'T REQUIRED. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ON STAY TRIL TRIGSS AND GYNECOLOGISTS DOESN'T TAKE A POSITION ON DOULA BUT SAYS CONTINUING SUPPORT DURING LABOR MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR WOMEN.

>> THEY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND THEY'RE PART OF THE DELIVERY TEAM AND THE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: DR. RAYMOND SANDLER IS THE DIRECTOR OF LABOR AND DELIVERY AT MT. SINAI HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK. HE'S A BIG SUPPORTER OF DOULAS BUT SAYS IN SOME CASES THERE CNB BE CHALLENGES.

>> THEY'RE NONMEDICAL AND SHOULD STICK TO NONMEDICAL DECISION MAKING. AT TIMES THERE IS SOME TENSION BETWEEN THE DOULA AND THE PHYSICIAN BECAUSE THE DOULA -- FOR INSTANCE, IF THE PHYSICIAN WANTS TO DO CERTAIN INTERVENTIONS, THE DOULA MAY FEEL IT'S NOT NECESSARY AND INJECTS HERSELF INTO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME OBSTETRICIANS WHO FEEL THIS IS AN EXTRA PERSON IN THE ROOM GETTING IN THE WAY.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A RANGE OF ATTITUDES. I THINK GENERALLY AS THERE ARE MORE AND MORE DOULAS IN A HOSPITAL, THE STAFF BECOMES MORE COMFORTABLE. IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT FOR THE DOULAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: A MAIN SOURCE OF TENSION BETWEEN DOULAS AND DOCTORS IS OVER THE USE OF C-SECTIONS. WHILE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS A C-SECTION IS APPROPRIATE UP TO 15% OF THE TIME, IN THE UNITED STATES NEARLY 33% OF ALL DELIVERIES ARE DONE BY C-SECTION. MARY POWELL THOMAS POINTS TO A RECENT RESEARCH BY A NONPROFIT GROUP THAT STUDIES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH CARE. AFTER REVIEWING PREGNANCY SUPPORT TRIALS FROM 16 COUNTRIES, IT DETERMINED CONTINUOUS SUPPORT IN LABOR, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF A DOULA, REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A C-SECTION BY AS MUCH AS 22%.

>> IF A WOMAN IS IN A SITUATION THAT IS SCARY AND A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL GIVES HER A QUICK MEDICALESE ANSWER, WE MIGHT ASK SHE NEED MORE INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: IT'S THE POWER OF INFORMATION THAT JESSICA MARSHALL SAYS SHE'S COUNTING ON IN ORDER TO HAVE A NATURAL BIRTH.

>> I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISE ME ARE WHAT HAVING A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, MHOW THAT AFFECTS A MOTHER WHEN SHE GOES TO GIVE BIRTH AND DELIVER AND HOW THAT CAN PRODUCE RESULTS SHE DIDN'T DESIRE SUCH AS A C-SECTION OR SOME OTHER HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.

>> Reporter: DESPITE WHAT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BELIEVE ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOULA PROGRAMS AND DESPITE THE GROWING POPULARITY OF USING DOULAS, THERE'S STILL ONLY LIMITED INSURANCE TO PAY FOR THEM. OREGON AND MINNESOTA HAVE PASSED LAWS ALLOWING MEDICAID TO PAY FOR DOULA CARE, BUT MOST WOMEN PAY ANYWHERE FROM A FEW HUNDRED TO A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET.

>> MANY PEOPLE SEE DOULAS AS A LUXURY. SERVICES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN INSURANCE. HERE YOU ARE PROVIDING THIS LUXURY TO WOMEN IN LOW-INCOME AREAS.

>> YES, WE ARE. AND IT'S GREAT.

>> WHY?

>> WHY? BECAUSE IT'S A PROVEN WAY TO IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES. THAT'S OUR MISSION. >>> WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE THE BEST AND WORST SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NEW MOTHERS? VISIT NEWSHOUR.PBS.ORG. >>> THE RESULTS OF A POLL RELEASED THIS WEEK GOT OUR ATTENTION. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, GALLUP HAS ASKED, DO THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES DO AN ADEQUATE JOB REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, OR DO THEY DO SUCH A POOR JOB THAT A THIRD MAJOR PARTY IS NEEDED? THIS WEEK, THOSE SAYING THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES DID AN ADEQUATE JOB HIT AN ALL-TIME LOW, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE SAYING A THIRD PARTY IS NEEDED HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED FROM WASHINGTON BY NATHAN GONZALEZ. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE FINDINGS?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS THIRD PARTY QUESTION IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF ASKING THE CONGRESSIONAL JOB APPROVAL QUESTION RIGHT NOW. FOR A LARGE SEGMENT OF AMERICANS WHO THINK THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH GRIDLOCK, THEY DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING, THEY'RE EXTREMELY OPEN TO ANOTHER POSSIBILITY. SO WHEN PROMPTED SAY, WELL, WOULD YOU WANT A THIRD PARTY, THEY'LL SAY, SURE, WE DON'T LIKE WHAT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS ARE DOING, SO LET'S LOOK FOR ANOTHER WAY BEEN.

>> IS THIS INDICATIVE OF WHY THE TEA PARTY'S POPULARITY HAS SUSTAINED ITSELF OVER TIME?

>> WELL, I THINK THE TEA PARTY IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL. I THINK IT WOULD BE NATURAL TO SAY, WELL, THE TEA PARTY IS IN PLACE IN ORDER TO BECOME THE NEXT REAL THIRD PARTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THE TEA PARTY HAS NEVER REALLY SHOWN A DESIRE TO BECOME THAT THIRD PARTY. I THINK IT'S MORE OF A REFORM MOVEMENT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I THINK THE TEA PARTY KIND OF REVELS IN ITS DECENTRALIZATION, BUT IN ORDER TO BECOME, I THINK, A LEGITIMATE ELECTORAL THIRD-PARTY THREAT, YOU'D NEED TO BE MUCH MORE ORGANIZED, HAVE MORE OF A CENTRAL LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO WIN, YOU KNOW, RACES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT.

>> DESPITE THE GROWING SENTIMENT FOR A THIRD PARTY, AREN'T THERE HUGE STRUCTURAL OBSTACLES TO CREATING ONE?

>> RIGHT. I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES. ONE ARE STRUCTURAL ISSUES FOR ANY POTENTIAL THIRD PARTY. OUR SYSTEM IS, I THINK, BIASED TOWARD REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TOWARD TWO PARTIES. IF YOU'RE A THIRD PARTY, IN MOST STATES IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GAIN BALLOT ACCESS, JUST TO BECOME A CHOICE, IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT. YOU EITHER NEED MORE SIGNATURES AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PARTY INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO GATHER THOSE SIGNATURES. I THINK IT'S ALSO STRUCTURALLY A PROBLEM FOR A THIRD PARTY IN RAISING MONEY. YOU DON'T HAVE A NATURAL BASE TO GO TO FROM ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER. BUT I ALMOST THINK MORE THAN THE STRUCTURAL DISADVANTAGES FOR A THIRD PARTY IS AN IDEOLOGICAL CHALLENGE. THAT IS, I THINK WHAT THIS QUESTION, THE OPENNESS TO A THIRD PARTY SHOWS IS A DISSATISFACTION WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T WANT BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING GRIDLOCK. BUT WHEN YOU START TO ASK PEOPLE, OKAY, LET'S GET A THIRD PARTY, WHAT ARE WE FOR? THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ALL DISAGREE ON THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR STRUGGLE FOR A THIRD PARTY TO REALLY COME UP OUT OF THIS.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SERIOUS THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES OVER THE YEARS THAN FORMER PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. GEORGE WALLACE WON 13.5% AND WON FOUR STATES. ROSS PEROT WON NEARLY 19% OF THE VOTE IN 1992. IS THERE A SERIOUS THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE WHO COULD EMERGE BY 202 2016?

>> I THINK EVERY SO MANY YEARS THERE IS THAT CANDIDATE. I THINK IN ORDER TO -- IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE THAN THAT IN ORDER TO GET A THIRD PARTY, A MAJOR THIRD PARTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SENATE CANDIDATES, CANDIDATES FOR THE U.S. HOUSE IN PLACE AND READY TO, YOU KNOW, WIN SEATS. THAT'S WHERE THE ELECTORAL POWER IS GOING TO COME. SO RIGHT NOW, IN MOST CASES, YOU SEE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES THAT CAN GET A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THE VOTE, MAYBE IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE, MAYBE WINNING A GOVERNORSHIP OR TWO. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THAT, MORE ORGANIZATION, I THINK MORE MONEY TO -- IN ORDER TO HAVE A MAJOR, WIDESPREAD CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> ALL RIGHT. NATHAN GONZALEZ, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. ♪ >>> THIS IS PBS "NEWS HOUR WEEKEND" SUNDAY. >>> FINALLY, A DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THE DISEASE KILLS AN ESTIMATED 660,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. BETTER PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW POSITIVE RESULTS AND SOON A NEW DRUG COULD SAVE EVEN MORE LIVES.

>> Reporter: MALARIA MIGHT SEEM LIKE A FOREIGN WORD FROM A TRAVEL ADVISORY, BUT HERE IN MOE ZAM BEAK, IT'S A DEADLY REALITY. IN ALMOST ANY HOSPITAL IN RURAL AFRICA, YOU'LL SEE THE IMPACT OF AN ILLNESS THAT HITS CHILDREN THE WORST. KILLING THE MOSQUITOS THAT CARRY IT CAN HELP TO FIGHT THE DISEASE BUT NOT BEAT IT. A NEW VACCINE IS VITAL TO ERADICATE AN ILLNESS THAT KILLS ONE PERSON EVERY MINUTE.

>> YOU HAVE THE PEAK OF MALARIA SEASON. ONE WILL BE IN A COMA. ANOTHER WILL BE PAPER WHITE COLOR. ANOTHER ONE WILL BE CONVULSING. THERE MAY BE A THIRD, A FOURTH WHO HAS SUCH A HIGH FEVER YOU COULD BOIL WATER ON THEIR FOREHEAD. AS A HEALTH CARE WORKER, YOU HAVE SECONDS TO DECIDE WHO HAS A CHANCE TO LIVE.

>> Reporter: THIS VACCINE MIGHT HELP. IT'S BEEN TESTED ON THOUSANDS OF CHILDR CHILDREN. NOT A CURE, BUT A BIG STEP. AFTER DECADES OF DEVELOPMENT BY GLAXOSMITHCLINE, IT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN A YEAR'S TIME.

>> IT'S A GREAT BREAKTHROUGH IN SCIENCE, BUT IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE TO REACH THE CHILDREN WHO NEED IT.

>> Reporter: THE MALARIA CARRYING MOSQUITO IS A FORMIDABLE FOE IN THE POOREST COUNTRIES. ALTHOUGH THE VACCINE MAKERS SAY IT WON'T BE SOLD FOR PROFIT, ONE QUESTION FOR DOCTORS IN AFRICAN HOSPITALS IS HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. ♪ >>> JOIN US FOR THE NEWS HOUR TOMORROW ON AIR AND ONLINE. WE'LL BRING YOU NEWS ON EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN AND THE LATEST ON EFFORTS TO END THIS SHUTDOWN AND AVOID A DEFAULT ON GOVERNMENT DEBT. THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS "NEWS HOUR WEEKEND." THANKS FOR WATCHING. -- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com female narrator: TRULY CALIFORNIA IS A KQED PRODUCTION PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH: [upbeat rock music] ♪ NEXT ON TRULY CALIFORNIA... WHEN THE TROUBLES OF BEING A TEEN INCLUDE VIOLENCE AND INCARCERATION... - I HATE FOR HIM TO GO TO JAIL, AND THEN NOW I'M IN HERE JUST LIKE HIM. narrator: A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLERS TURN TO HIP-HOP MUSIC THERAPY... - YOUTH IN OAKLAND ARE DEALING WITH SOME PRETTY INTENSE EMOTIONS AROUND LOSS, AROUND GRIEF, AROUND VIOLENCE. narrator: AND TAKE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS TO THE PAGE... - I JUST GET A PEN AND A PIECE OF PAPER, THINK OF SOMETHING TO MAKE ME CALM DOWN SO I WON'T JUST DO SOMETHING STUPID.