Pregancy - Should you feel guilty?
First you do that test. The little lines or message or whatever comes up and you know. You’re pregnant. A new life is forming in your womb. It’s magical. So what next? You’re about a month into the 9 months and know nothing if it’s your first. So you start reading those Baby magazines, you know the ones, they have wonderfully healthy, glowing women on the front. Oh and full of advice. That’s where it starts, and the unwanted, unasked for advice from all your friends too. You realise it conflicts and contradicts itself. So you pop along to the doctors and ask them…..
Since that little blue line appeared on the pregnancy test, blue cheese, soft cheese (some say all cheese) has been banned. So has shellfish - cooked or not, depending on who you speak to - too much caffeine, bagged salad, bought coleslaw, and sin of sins, cigarettes.
Yes, it makes sense to take care of yourself while carrying a new life (or lives) inside you. It also makes sense to find out as much as you can to be sure you are informed.
One midwife I had was heard to say that quitting smoking while pregnant could cause more fetal stress than carrying on smoking. Cutting down was better. Her own opinion I understand but still! Soft cheese and runny eggs are another area of conflicting advice. Studies apparently show they are bad as they *could* contain salmonella. But surely most supermarket cheese and eggs are pasturised now? and most hens are vaccinated? Where’s the danger? I know salmonella can cause miscarriage. It goes back to simply being a bit more careful.
Just when did a seemingly simple act of nature get so complicated and the evangelists/doom-mongers take over?
It didn’t get complicated. Pregnancy stayed the same. Women have been growing babies for thousands of years. Yes, I know, modern medicine saves lives that may have been lost in childbirth. I have a couple of friends now that I wouldn’t have without that intervention. It has its place. But I also know people who have been terrified into having a c-section unecessarily, or been told they *need* to be induced just because they’re a bit overdue. Pregnancy takes up to 45 weeks for completion. Babies generally come when they are ready. Plenty are born naturally, at home and without intervention - well over their Estimated due date. Note the wording there folks - ESTIMATED!!! 
I’m drifting into a birth rant now, but I’ll save that for another post, along with childhood, indoctrination and vaccination. 
Not many of us realises that we are entitled to REFUSE intervention. All those scans and tests are not necessarily needed. I had them, by all means have them if it reassures you. But they are a choice, take control of your pregnancy. It’s YOURS! Don’t let the doctors take over unless you want them to.
OK. Some sort of disclaimer or clarification is needed now I think. These are my opinions based on my own personal experience, the experiences of some of my friends and opinions shared on some parenting websites. There are cases and pregnancies where medical intervention and control is needed in order to save life. I recognise that. Emergency situations or certain conditions do need more in the way of doctors and medicine. It’s normal pregnancy that I am talking about. The normal, straight forward ones where there is nothing to worry about. If you’re pregnant and medical help or reassurance is needed, then choose to use it. Get the pregnancy YOU choose and you deserve.
