Martina Navratilova reacts to shocking claim of US hospitals reporting new mothers for positive drug tests from medications administered during labor

Martina Navratilova has expressed outrage over a shocking report detailing how hospitals across the United States are reporting new mothers to child welfare authorities due to positive drug tests triggered by routine medications given during labor. A report by 'The Marshall Project' shed light on the practice that has led to the unjust targeting of women.

The report revealed that hospitals are routinely administering medications for pain relief, anxiety management, and blood pressure control during labor and cesarean sections, only to later report new mothers to child welfare authorities when their drug tests return positive for these substances.

The experiences of Amairani Salinas and Victoria Villanueva highlight the severity of the problem. Salinas, who lost her baby at 32 weeks due to a stillbirth, was given midazolam to calm her nerves before an emergency cesarean section.

The next day, as she mourned her loss, she was informed by a social worker that she was being reported to child welfare authorities because of traces of benzodiazepine in her system—substances that were administered by the hospital. Similarly, Villanueva, who received narcotics to ease her labor pains, was informed that her baby’s meconium had tested positive for opiates.

The issue gained further attention on X on December 12, 2024, when a user criticized the media’s lack of coverage on this matter. The post condemned the societal and governmental indifference towards the struggles of new mothers compared to the extensive media coverage of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"National headlines are consumed by the killing of a millionaire healthcare CEO. What's glaringly obvious is how the government mobilized all of these resources for that, something it would never do for women like Salinas, Villanueva, or the tens of thousands of mothers who are devastated by these policies," the user said.

"Our society only seems to care when the victim is a white male millionaire, while women, especially women of color, are left to endure these injustices and fend for themselves. This is the real story, and it deserves the same media frenzy," the individual added.

Navratilova, a renowned advocate for women's rights and social justice, joined the chorus of voices condemning this practice by commenting on the post:

"And just when you thought misogyny couldn’t get any worse…"

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"Being pregnant should not be this dangerous" - Martina Navratilova reacts to Supreme Court upholding Idaho's abortion ban

Martina Navratilova during the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards press conference (Image source: Getty)

Earlier this year, Martina Navratilova responded to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing Idaho to enforce an abortion ban, penalizing doctors who perform abortions in emergencies. The ban carries severe consequences, including up to five years in prison for healthcare providers.

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion expressed strong disapproval, calling the ban a "war on women" and stating that being pregnant in 2024 should not be "dangerous."

"And the war on women continues.’ Being pregnant should not be this dangerous… not here, not I. 2024," Martina Navratilova wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In September 2024, Martina Navratilova condemned President-elect Donald Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court over the country's abortion laws after a report emerged about a Georgia woman’s death linked to the state's restrictive abortion policies.