Great Advice for Rational-Moms-to-be
Elyse over at Skepchick has posted this excellent article that is a wonderfully soothing, reassuring, uplifting and funny letter to all mothers-to-be on how to be rational, relax, enjoy your pregnancy, and not listen to bonehead advice. She tells some refreshing truths that you might not find in your typical “pregnancy is a miracle” book.
Favorite quote:
You may hate being pregnant. Even if you feel great physically. You may not bond with your baby. You may not feel overjoyed and amazed whenever your baby kicks. You may find it annoying. You may feel gross having a person inside you. This is not a sign that you will be a terrible mother. Once your baby is here, you will love it.
If you are, or a lady you love is, currently building a human, check it out!
Stacy McKenna Seip Said,
January 3, 2009 @ 9:54 am
It comes close, but it swings too far in the other extreme. For example: “Once your baby is here, you will love it.” – potential fallacy. Some women NEVER do. Some women never will. Most of us do, hence us being willing to carry to term in the first place, but not all.
Also, her recommendations against alternative medicine practices – just as knee jerk as those who argue against epidurals. If going to the chiropractor during pregnancy makes you feel better (I hear they give a great massage, especially those specializing in pregnancy work) then do it. If aiming for a drug free pregnancy makes you feel better about the process, do it.
The truth is, you’re going to be hormonal as all get out, and you should be doing what will make you most able to cope. For me this was a hospital setting (family history on both sides of dangerous births, and true to fear, the kid showed up 7 weeks early in a prolonged and painful labor/delivery). But being comfortable and feeling some sense of control often makes it easier to handle being in labor. Everyone has a different set of circumstances that make them most comfortable, and they should follow them, being well informed about what risks they’re accepting.
Kate Said,
January 4, 2009 @ 12:34 am
I read her article from start to finish and I was truly disappointed. My dh is a big fan of skepchick, I really expected much more support for evidence based medicine and practices, and less support for insurance and fear based medicine and practices.
Julie Said,
January 4, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Ah, I like it. It was tongue in cheek, obviously. I thought she said some great stuff.
Shawna Said,
January 4, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
I read Skepchicks;s article and was sad. Sad that she would take such a horrific approach to giving her friend advice about childbirth. It isn’t the same for every woman. It isn’t even the same for every pregnancy that the same woman has. I have had four vaginal deliveries and experienced everything possible from the hospital birth WITH the epidural, to the homebirth with no pain relief. And the only thing I can say about it is…the epidural does work but I couldn’t feel a bloomin’ thing and the OB wisked my babe away from me as soon as I delivered him. It wasn’t much better without the epidural in a hospital setting, at least I could stand after my child was born but I had to birth lying on my back (ouch) and our third my husband actually delivered in the hospital…cause the nurse didn’t really believe me when I said I had to push. Our fourth was born simply with a midwife at home and I recovered quickly and happily.
My ONLY point is this…it is different for every woman and every pregnancy and only the woman giving that child it’s life can make those decisions. And while I appreciate her experience, and her tongue in cheekiness…it could easily be taken the wrong way by her friend. Oh yeh, and childbirth statistics in Africa have nothing to do with the choice to hospital birth…only access to clean water and healthy mothers.
Sorry for needing to rant.
brit Said,
January 14, 2009 @ 5:12 am
If you want a better article? Try Podblack who wrote earlier in the month and actually came up with some book reviews — four, in fact:
Skeptical Parenting – books for a birthday — http://podblack.com/?p=1104