Why Does Western Medicine Make It Like Pregnancy Is A Disease??
wow--gestational diabetes has serious consequences for both mom and baby if it is not caught and managed. It is in no way related to the waistlines of americans--nor is it a new test. If you became diabetic during pregnancy--your blood sugar levels can cause you serious problems--that could be long term for you. As for baby, it can cause significant problems there too!!--for starters, babies are unusually large, and that can cause complications at birth.
Yes, you can refuse tests--that is fine, because then if there are any problems with baby or mom, DR. is off the hook since you refused further assessment. Again, I am not saying I am for all of the testing that goes on, but a good Dr. will only do what seems indicated based on the patient and baby. I had one ultrasound with each of my kids--first child was to rule out twins 
yikes: ), second one was to determine if child was breech or not prior to delivery, and third was to monitor baby since I did have increased BP, and had to be on bed rest for a while. All appropriate, no further assessment needed. Best advice--find a doc you can talk to and trust. They are out there.
yikes: ), second one was to determine if child was breech or not prior to delivery, and third was to monitor baby since I did have increased BP, and had to be on bed rest for a while. All appropriate, no further assessment needed. Best advice--find a doc you can talk to and trust. They are out there.
well, I had a different doc. for each of my kids (due to where we were living when each one was born)--3 great docs that I had a rapport with, could talk to and ask questions, etc. It can be done--and I am all too familiar with restrictions based on insurances. Malpractice suits happen frequently to OB's==that's why many decide to just practice GYN. It's a shame really. My mom was a nurse, uncle is a dr., grew up around medicine and worked in a hospital for a while--dr's are not enemy number one.
I think a lot of the testing has more to do with protection against malpractice suits. OB-GYNs have a lot to worry about, so they just use all the tools available to ward off any problems down the road.
The other reason pregnancy is treated like an illness is the fact that once you have the child you will be worried sick for the next twenty-some-odd years. lol.
The other reason pregnancy is treated like an illness is the fact that once you have the child you will be worried sick for the next twenty-some-odd years. lol.
Minimalist approach is best
From my perspective I've seen a lot of interventions that truly seem to lend themselves to the micromanagement of the mother and fetus.
I'm going to go on a limb here; that historically, the majority of the doctors were male and since most males very poorly understand the female body; the tests that were introduced were used to demystify a fairly mysterious (to the male gender) process.
Humans seem to make what should be a fairly simple process, very convoluted.
For what it's worth; if we were more apt to procreate along the lines of how we "responsibly" breed dogs; there would be far fewer health problems in humans. But I don't want to get anyone's panties in a twist; so I won't go any further with that idea.
I'm really far out health-wise however; I use homeopathy almost exclusively; along with nutritional supplementation to take care of most problems. The most allopathic person I visit is my dentist.
With Mitchell - born April 2000 - I went with my g.p.'s male recommended ob-gyn; had 4 ultrasounds - they thought Mitch had DS, all other tests they could possibly suggest to me; didn't have a lick of trouble the whole pregnancy, had a relatively uneventful labour (4:30 a.m. to 9:40 p.m.) (made it to 7 cm dilated walking around at home), stupidly accepted a muscle shot of Nubain; had my contractions slow to a crawl (probably because I was lying on my back in a bed) and required 7 stitches when I tore pushing the little bugger out - nothing natural about that birth experience at all. As well due to the Nubain; Mitch ended up in the Natal Intensive Care with respiratory distress (gee guess that's why they no longer administer Nubain when in labour) for an entire week - and my milk dried up.
With Avalon - born October 2004 - I went with a midwife - had no tests except one blood test - can't remember what it was for; no ultrasounds, and peed on a stick every well-patient visit. Had identical uneventful pregnancy, started my labour the same as Mitchie's (4:30 a.m. start); however Avalon was in a bit of a hurry, she arrived at 1:40. At 12:50 I was telling my Mom to call the midwife team; let them know we would meet them at the hospital and at 1:10 I was on my hands and knees at the foot of my bed; asking my mother if she would be my midwife - she wisely said no; called the team back and told them to come straight to the house; from 1:15 to 1:40 I pushed; I never made it from a kneeling position at the foot of my bed; Avalon was born at home and her first visit to the doctor was a consult with specialists to format the repair of her cleft palate. After I discovered the link of cleft palates to tongue ties and other genetic anamolies (such as super numerary nipples) - both of which are on both sides of the family - although myself and my husband don't exhibit them) I decided on no more kids.
Both together at local splash pad
Avi and Kim
Mitch playing soccer
From my perspective I've seen a lot of interventions that truly seem to lend themselves to the micromanagement of the mother and fetus.
I'm going to go on a limb here; that historically, the majority of the doctors were male and since most males very poorly understand the female body; the tests that were introduced were used to demystify a fairly mysterious (to the male gender) process.
Humans seem to make what should be a fairly simple process, very convoluted.
For what it's worth; if we were more apt to procreate along the lines of how we "responsibly" breed dogs; there would be far fewer health problems in humans. But I don't want to get anyone's panties in a twist; so I won't go any further with that idea.
I'm really far out health-wise however; I use homeopathy almost exclusively; along with nutritional supplementation to take care of most problems. The most allopathic person I visit is my dentist.
With Mitchell - born April 2000 - I went with my g.p.'s male recommended ob-gyn; had 4 ultrasounds - they thought Mitch had DS, all other tests they could possibly suggest to me; didn't have a lick of trouble the whole pregnancy, had a relatively uneventful labour (4:30 a.m. to 9:40 p.m.) (made it to 7 cm dilated walking around at home), stupidly accepted a muscle shot of Nubain; had my contractions slow to a crawl (probably because I was lying on my back in a bed) and required 7 stitches when I tore pushing the little bugger out - nothing natural about that birth experience at all. As well due to the Nubain; Mitch ended up in the Natal Intensive Care with respiratory distress (gee guess that's why they no longer administer Nubain when in labour) for an entire week - and my milk dried up.
With Avalon - born October 2004 - I went with a midwife - had no tests except one blood test - can't remember what it was for; no ultrasounds, and peed on a stick every well-patient visit. Had identical uneventful pregnancy, started my labour the same as Mitchie's (4:30 a.m. start); however Avalon was in a bit of a hurry, she arrived at 1:40. At 12:50 I was telling my Mom to call the midwife team; let them know we would meet them at the hospital and at 1:10 I was on my hands and knees at the foot of my bed; asking my mother if she would be my midwife - she wisely said no; called the team back and told them to come straight to the house; from 1:15 to 1:40 I pushed; I never made it from a kneeling position at the foot of my bed; Avalon was born at home and her first visit to the doctor was a consult with specialists to format the repair of her cleft palate. After I discovered the link of cleft palates to tongue ties and other genetic anamolies (such as super numerary nipples) - both of which are on both sides of the family - although myself and my husband don't exhibit them) I decided on no more kids.
Both together at local splash pad
Avi and Kim
Mitch playing soccer
No kidding! You ain't just 'a whistlin' Dixie. It's amazing I even lived through my kids. The worry, stress, tension, anxiety over them, the blood pressure, the Mc Donalds...It's a wonder they don't treat this as one of the more serious diseases.
Seriously....compare the pioneer days with now and the mortality rates of babies and mothers during child birth. I'd rather go with the preventative tests, the caution and better care these days. I agree that there is such a thing as over doing things in some situations. Definitely. Pregnancy isn't a disease. But it can be dangerous. Things go horribly wrong sometimes.
Seriously....compare the pioneer days with now and the mortality rates of babies and mothers during child birth. I'd rather go with the preventative tests, the caution and better care these days. I agree that there is such a thing as over doing things in some situations. Definitely. Pregnancy isn't a disease. But it can be dangerous. Things go horribly wrong sometimes.
I'm aware of what the tests are for..... I am having the tests for it now, having failed the first test by three points I have just had the 3 hour diagnostic test.... and it IS a fairly new test as far as tests go.... well new in the sense that they give it to everyone. they did not used to do that. and with the rise in diabetes in america due to the unhealthy way we eat and live..... I am not surprised that they are now giving this test to every pregnant woman.
What I MEAN is.... they didn't give it to every single person that was pregnant until just the past ten or so years..... before it was mainly if they suspected you were at risk.... and at risk factors INCLUDE.... da da da da.... being overweight..... not saying that is why you had the test so please don't turn it around that way.... what I am saying is that it indeed does have to do with the increasing obesity problem in the US. Being overweight puts you at significantly higher risk of GD. there are more risk factors but that one puts you at the MOST risk since you do gain even MORE weight during pregnancy.
They didn't always give that test to every single pregnant woman. I am 26 and my mother has never even HEARD of such a test. So while you may have had the test..... it wasn't a test that everyone had or was even told about.... now EVERYONE gets the one hour test regardless.
But on another note.... I really do not see any point to the amnio test.... it isn't even a reliable test... and if it comes back positive there is a very slight chance that your child even HAS DS and even if they do it's not like they can do anything for you..... other than terminate the pregnancy if you so choose.... but with such a low reliability rate why would you terminate the pregnancy.... that's sad. I did not have the amnio. the risks FAR FAR FAR FAR outweighed the "benefits"
They didn't always give that test to every single pregnant woman. I am 26 and my mother has never even HEARD of such a test. So while you may have had the test..... it wasn't a test that everyone had or was even told about.... now EVERYONE gets the one hour test regardless.
But on another note.... I really do not see any point to the amnio test.... it isn't even a reliable test... and if it comes back positive there is a very slight chance that your child even HAS DS and even if they do it's not like they can do anything for you..... other than terminate the pregnancy if you so choose.... but with such a low reliability rate why would you terminate the pregnancy.... that's sad. I did not have the amnio. the risks FAR FAR FAR FAR outweighed the "benefits"
Mine is 17............took it too, and it wasn't a "do you want to" it was just prescribed (FYI, I wasn't over weight.........just sayin' )
Goodness people........what Jess said is right. These are your children here, how many times do you label someone BYB because they don't do proper testing on DOGS before they let them have PUPPIES??
Even if some of the tests are a little overboard for EVERYONE........what if just ONE of those tests help YOUR child in some way??
There is no price tag on peace of mind or potentially improving you/your childs health
(FYI, I wasn't over weight.........just sayin' )Goodness people........what Jess said is right. These are your children here, how many times do you label someone BYB because they don't do proper testing on DOGS before they let them have PUPPIES??
Even if some of the tests are a little overboard for EVERYONE........what if just ONE of those tests help YOUR child in some way??
There is no price tag on peace of mind or potentially improving you/your childs health
I'll bet all those women who took thalidomide trusted their doctors and didn't question them either. And what was the next modern medical miracle? I can't remember the name of it, but it was prescribed to pregnant women . . . and found out later it had caused a rare form of cancer in their daughters.