(no subject)

[waterspyder]

I have some serious issues with the way certain aspects of pregnancy are treated, and I realized that most of them come back to what must be the bogeyman of the pregnancy world: miscarriage.

This fear was probably far more warranted 100 years ago, but the rate for all women in Canada accounts for 2% of all pregnancies, and for women in my age range, it's closer to 1%.

So because of 1% of pregnancies for women my age result in miscarriage, I was not supposed to share my joy with anyone before 3 months, just in case I was that one percent. Well, you know, I'm not even at three months, and won't be for another 4 days, but it seemed so counterintuitive to not say anything once I knew for sure. I mean, what if I did miscarry? Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to talk to?

And then there's the fragile issue. I'm no longer allowed to do anything, or eat anything "just in case"… While zenten gets to see me in some pretty choice moments, afflicted with a serious case of gas, or post-chinese food regret, I will have you know that I am not broken, and a fetus is a very accomplished parasite. I sincerely doubt that there is much that I could or could not do that would result in the loss of my baby. I truly believe that if I were to miscarry, that there would have been very little I could have done to avoid it, and the research out there supports my beliefs. But this doesn't stop people from giving their two cents on what I can lift, build, eat, drink, wear, how to sleep or manner in which I breathe. I do appreciate helpful advice, I don't appreciate pronouncements.

And while I'm at it, pregnancy is not a life-threatening condition. I think we'd be a lot better off if the general attitude toward pregnancy wasn't that it's an impending medical crisis. Somehow 7 billion people managed to safely land on this planet from all walks of life. I would expect the number to be somehow lower if it were really that dangerous.

So to summarize: I'm fine.

And on July 9, I get to check again to see if my baby is too.

Comments

[dolston.livejournal.com]

That was awesome to read. Thanks. Keep doing well! :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/greensleeves_/]

It's sad how modern medicine seems to be still informed from mankind's ancestral experiences of pregnancy problems, but in this day and age it is silly to think pregnancy is a health problem.

[waterspyder.livejournal.com]

I do have to admit, it's wierd having your body hijacked, but so far there has been nothing that would warrant concern if I weren't pregnant.

The doctor wants me to research what could have gone wrong with the baby based on the medications I was taking in early pregnancy.

So I can't do anything to fix it, and I'll just end up scaring myself into thinking I'm going to have a child with a cleft palate, Down's syndrome, club foot, developmental delays, multiple hernias, narcotic addiction, heart defect and hypothermia.

I'd rather just cross that bridge when I get there.

[kookiemaster.livejournal.com]

"a fetus is a very accomplished parasite"

That just made my day, thanks :)

I didn't even know of the 3 month things. Kind of weird. Have people started to touch your belly? Former co-worker said that being pregnant transforms about 90% of women who you meet into compulsive belly fondlers.

I think you're doing the rigth thing by steering clear of texts on the 500,000 things that can / could / migh go wrong.

[furious-g.livejournal.com]

As far as I am concerned you and your baby can do as you please and if other folks don't like it then tough for them. From the experience of my sister-in-law's pregancies the medical professionals do a heck of a lot more damage to you then the actual pregnancy.

[verinda.livejournal.com]

The belly touching tend to happen when you are visibly pregnant. For me it didn't start until I was 6 months pregnant.

[parisbaby-2003.livejournal.com]

You rock.
Keep it up.

I have a strong feeling that you're going to be a great, no-nonsense/no-bullshit/no-emotion-hijacking parent.

If more parents (and soon-to-be parents) were like you, G and I might have gone a different way when deciding whether or not to have kids.

[waterspyder.livejournal.com]

Just wait to see what I start grabbing back when I turn into a petting zoo.

[feli-valkyria.livejournal.com]

I think that's one reason why I don't want to get pregnant :P

[daruba.livejournal.com]

wow!!

i've been skimming eljay lately due to my own sense of impending resignation to the fact that i feel irrelevant....

and so, missed this post in my own pity party!!!

CONGRATS!!