Why Does Western Medicine Make It Like Pregnancy Is A Disease??

[savethebulliedbreeds]

So I have been thinking a lot about pregnancy lately....with me wanting to become a doula and trying to get pregnant.

Why is it that, western medicine make pregnancy like it is a disease. Why ALL the tests. I understand that, yes, they may tell you stuff but really. I can understand getting poked in the finger, urine samples etc., but what is with all the other tests they do now.

I was talking to my mom about all the tests they do and she said even when she had my brother (who is 13 now), they didn't do half of the stuff that they do now.

Like the downs syndrome test for example. Really, what is the point? The do it so late in the pregnancy that there really is nothing they can do anyways. Even at the highest risk, there is a 1 in 230 (or something) chance that the baby will actually have downs syndrome. If you then decide to do an amniocentesis then there is a 1 in 200 chance that the baby could die from it. There is nothing you can do about downs syndrome except terminate a pregnancy.

Same with ultrasounds. They do like 3-4 ultrasounds now. If there is a problem then yes, I can understand, but...

My personal thoughts are that pregnancy is and should be natural. I don't feel it should be treated like a disease. If I get pregnant I am going to have the bare minimum possible....like the finger poke, checkups, blood pressure, urine. If they find something wrong with those then they can check and poke and prod to see what the problem is and not until then.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Dekka]

I opted not for an amniocentisis, as you said its not like I would do anything different anyway. I liked the multiple ultrasounds. I got 3. One two make sure everything was good in the beggining. 2nd one when my doctor thought I was much larger and wanted to see if there was more than one. 3rd one after a failed induction (was quite overdue) to check size, health, postion etc.

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

But with your ultrasounds, I can understand it. They thought there might be problems.

A friend of mine had 4 and for no reason. Her pregnancy was perfect in every way.

 

[ACooper]

I agree with alot of what you said Save...........but some of the tests done late in pregnancy on the baby helps to prepare Dr/nurses if there is a problem going in, they can be ready and waiting to treat. (some things are even treatable in the womb nowadays............WOW)

I had tons of tests on myself........sugar, BP, iron......etc.. This was to be sure I was keeping in good shape to share with Jr I only had one ultra sound with each of my boys, and that more than anything was so I could get a sneak peak and have the nursery ready

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

I agree with you somewhat also. I do really strongly feel that most of the tests are extremely helpful and give a "heads up" to potentially harmful diseases. We used to only do that AFP (Downs Syndrome) testing on older women. They now do it routinely. We do a panel that checks thyroid, Varicella, Hepatitis, HIV, RPR (syphilis), CBC, blood type, CBC, and a UA.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I don't think it's necessarily seen as a disease, rather a miracle that is best to keep safe. These tests are ways to keep up on mom and baby's health.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

some people decide to terminate based on results of tests--for others, it may help them to prepare for any problems that may occur during the birth, it may determine what type of birth, etc. Children with Down Syndrome vary greatly in how it presents--one child may have minimal involvment, while others may have such low muscle tone that it affects their ability to be active, stimulate breathing, etc.

 

[Southpaw]

I think I would want to know if my baby had a chance of having downs syndrome...to give me time to prepare, ya know? I wouldn't want it to come as a complete surprise.

I agree with BP...I just see it as a way to make sure everything is safe and going smoothly.

 

[SisMorphine]

Personally I see it as parasitic, not a disease.

When my mother was preggers everyone was all about going natural, giving birth at home or in birthing centers. Luckily for me my mother gave birth in a hospital. I was born with a cleft palate that DID NOT affect my facial structure, and therefore a midwife would not have noticed this deformity. Luckily I was stabilized and flown to Children's in Boston to have my first of many surgeries to save my life.

**** natural. Get drugs. Get tests. If you're actually willing to have a parasite in you make sure it's the healthiest **** parasite possible . . .

 

[blue]

Profit.

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Sis, why would you say that a midwife wouldn't have noticed???

Truth is, is that midwifes don't see a ton of patients in a day like doctors do. They are concentrated on one patient at one time. If you are in labor, they are concentrating on you and the baby. Not you and the baby and 10 other people.

Midwifes still do the same checkup on the mom and baby as doctors do.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

Profit.

There a lot of truth to what Blue said!! Our Dr's are pushed to order more tests for patients to make more money for the hospital. Dirty dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DoggyDaze]

I think "disease" is the wrong label. How about "condition"? Yes, each test brings in some money from the insurer. But each test provides information for all concerned.

Pregnancy can kill mom, child or both if something goes wrong. The tests are not a burden. They represent the current state of the art in medicine.

Of course, if Mom looks jaundiced they could treat her with leaches.

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

I am not saying tests are wrong. They are perfectly fine IF needed. I honestly think hospitals go overboard when it comes to pregnancy.

The main problems with pregnancy can be detected by simple tests. Those simple tests will tell you if something is wrong. If there is something wrong THEN they can run more tests.

I also think that sometimes hospitals/doctors are in it for the money. I am not saying ALL, but some are.

My husbands doctor for example, had the clinic phone here and tell me to tell Scott that he had to make an appointment immediately and that it had to do with the tests results.

He went to the doctor the next day and the doctor told him that the test results came back perfect. Now why was that so urgent? Couldn't he tell him over the phone?

Personally, I think pregnancy and childbirth is a natural thing and sometimes I think too much interfence may not be a good thing.

 

[whatszmatter]

They do treat it as a disease. Birth control pills, all the testing, control the hormones, induce labor, schedule C-sections so the Dr can have his vacation or the mother can have their baby on 7-7-07, stupid stuff like that.

someone was right it is a miracle, that still happens despite humane intervention, not because of it.l

 

[noludoru]

Blue, Dena, Jaclyn:. :hail: Jaclyn no new updates.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

While I agree, maybe test's are overutilized-- I have to think that the letigious world that we live in contributes to this as well. Imagine a mom to be who didn't get offered a certain test, because the Dr. didn't see a "reason" for it. Mom gives birth--baby has some congenitial issues (Down syndrom, cleft palate, spina bifida, many many others...) and now Mom and Dad sue the Dr. since there were tests that COULD have identified this for them--if only they had been offered it. Now, I am not saying I am supporting this--I personally declined the test for Down Syndrome. I also, ironically, had a child who is developmentally disabled--no test would have discovered her needs in utero. BUT< I work with families and children with disabilities--I talk to many people in different stages of dealing with /accepting/or denying their child's disabilities. Some would have chosen different options or immediate interventions had they known the situation via a test. A Mom and Dad should know about what tests are available (given certain indicators for the need of the test).

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Baxter, I agree with you....I believe that future parents to be should be given the option for all these tests. I believe parents should be informed. But I don't think all these tests should be manditory. I think it should be up to the parents what tests are given to them and their babies.

I personally, would opt out of ALL unnecessary tests unless something was found to be wrong. If it was like threatening for myself or the baby then I would allow other tests.

I want to have as natural as pregnancy as possible without a ton of interference from doctors. I don't even see pregnancy as a medical condition....just your body doing what it should.....what it can.

I dunno maybe I am just weird lol.

 

[sparks19]

Four ultrasounds? where does that happen lol.

I had two.... one was our choice and it was free because it was done at a training center for nurses. We sought them out and asked to have a first trimester ultrasound done..... other than that I had my 18 week ultrasound and that is it.

So without the optional UltraSound I would have only had one ultrasound.

As for the amnio.... that baloney.... I don't know why anyone gets that done. it's just an excuse for them to charge you more money and basically tells you nothing.

My gestational diabetes test.... I'm guessing they started doing those because of the vast waistband americans are getting these days.

Other than that I can't say I have had any mandatory tests or ultrasounds other than the usual one at 18 weeks.

 

[Renee750il]

If you think about it, there's no such thing as a mandatory test. You can always say no. They may pressure you and threaten and try to send you on a guilt trip, but ultimately, you have the authority to refuse the test.

I'm not denying you'll get a lot of hassles and a great deal of pressure and even emotional blackmail and threats, but you document all that and remind them that there's a review board for their profession.