We congratulate Diana Johnston for introducing her bill (New bill to challenge UK’s Victorian-era abortion law, 14 March) and are delighted it was passed by 172 to 142 votes. As a 10-minute rule bill, it has no chance of becoming law, but it is important in starting the debate about whether, after 50 years, it is time to revisit the 1967 Abortion Act. It is time to treat abortion like any other medical procedure, and control it with regulation and the GMC. It is wrong that three women have been jailed or had a suspended sentence, and that doctors responding to women’s requests may face criminal prosecution. Many people (and even some gynaecologists) do not realise abortion is a criminal offence unless it conforms with the conditions set out in the Act. Up to 80% of people polled believe the woman should make the decision in consultation with her doctor and 90% of a random sample of gynaecologists surveyed in 2015 said that the woman should make the decision to end her pregnancy. It is time for women to be treated as autonomous adults capable of making their own decisions about continuing a pregnancy, a view that the some tabloid newspapers seem incapable of understanding. Wendy Savage Co-ordinator, Doctors for a Woman’s Choice on Abortion
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
During my first pregnancy, I fully expected to glow and bloom. I was going to eat healthy, organic food, and exercise to nurture the life growing inside me. I never imagined that by week 10 I would look up the number for an abortion clinic from a bed where I had been a prisoner for two months, bar the days spent in hospital on a drip. I suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum and for me pregnancy is life threatening.
Hyperemesis is not just normal waves of nausea and occasional vomiting that most women experience in early pregnancy. It is nausea so intense and all-consuming you feel like you’ve been poisoned. It is vomiting so relentlessly that your throat bleeds and your stomach muscles tear. It is a sense of smell so powerful and warped that your partner can’t come near enough to offer comfort without making you retch. I could not swallow my own saliva without puking it back up.
The long, dark days lying motionless in my bed with acid trickling from my mouth slowly turned into weeks and then months. I was wracked with guilt for taking medication and at the same time I fantasised about miscarrying or aborting my baby.
But when I sought help from doctors or support from friends I was met with scepticism and doubt. People thought that ginger, fresh air and a positive mental attitude was all I needed. Some people thought I was skiving off work or that because they had never heard of it, hyperemesis couldn’t possibly be a real condition.
When my GP took me off the medications the hospital had prescribed, saying “It’s normal, pull yourself together”, we seriously considered termination. I had come so far but still had so far to go. My husband worried that I might die and he felt helpless. But even an abortion seemed impossible; I couldn’t get out of bed to shower, let alone manage long car journeys for multiple appointments.
Unsurprisingly, the mental toll of hyperemesis can be profound. And yet much of the mental burden and suffering could be avoided. The physical symptoms are torturous but it is the loneliness and stigma that is so hard to bear. When a doctor or midwife simply believes what you’re saying, the first battle is won and the fight to survive the illness feels more achievable. Is it too much to ask to be believed?
Historically, hyperemesis was taken very seriously as it was the leading cause of death in early pregnancy. Before intravenous fluids and anti-sickness medication, the only effective treatment was abortion, which was generally fatal anyway. The death rate dropped with modern treatments but then came the psychodynamic era. Suddenly women were being accused of mentally rejecting the foetus and were subjected to barbaric “therapies” such as isolation and interrogation.
Incredibly, this was the mainstay of treatment in Europe until earlier this century and, despite a vast amount of scientific evidence showing it is not a psychological condition, the psychodynamic theories persist in public and healthcare opinion. In part, they prevail because we don’t yet know the precise biological cause of either morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum.
The thalidomide tragedy of the 1950s also casts a long, dark shadow over the condition and is the key reason doctors are fearful to prescribe in pregnancy. There is no cure for hyperemesis. What we have is a range of safe medications to manage the physical symptoms. Decades of safety data has shown they don’t harm the baby; in fact recent research found that not treating severe symptoms can be harmful. The old adage that “Baby will be fine, it takes what it needs” is simply not true. The only solution is education and awareness, but doctors have to want to learn about hyperemesis and its treatments in the first place.
It’s not all doom and gloom – dedicated hyperemesis day units are springing up across the UK
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I don’t know how we got through it but we did. The moment I gave birth to my son it felt as though a 70kg rucksack of nausea and misery I’d been carrying for nine months was lifted off my back; it was euphoric. Many women aren’t as lucky and face little choice but to terminate their wanted pregnancies as the physical, mental and financial toll becomes a reality. For some women, it is simply a matter of life or death.
Access to treatment has thankfully improved this decade, and the condition is once again being recognised as the life-threatening pregnancy complication it is. Yet the stigma remains tenacious. My research with Plymouth University, published by the Midwives Information and Resource Service this week, looked at women’s experiences of treatment for hyperemesis across the UK over the past two years and found that, for more than half of women, accessing treatment was difficult.
Women’s symptoms were often dismissed or normalised, or the treatments for them were described, incorrectly, as risky. A mere 34% of women felt they were making informed decisions about their treatment and couples terminated based on misinformation about other options. Healthcare professionals can’t give the information that women need to give informed consent if they don’t know the information themselves, so again, education and awareness is the key.
It’s not all doom and gloom – dedicated hyperemesis day units are springing up across the UK and could offer a solution to some of the challenges faced by those affected by hyperemesis. Staff knowledge and understanding, information provision and overall satisfaction was found to be higher in such settings. Treatment can be fitted around family, work and childcare commitments and the number of treatment days were halved thereby reducing financial burdens and saving a lot of money for overstretched maternity units. It is likely that the very process of setting up a day unit ensures staff are educated about hyperemesis.
Ultimately, however, the drugs are the same whether they are given in hospital, day unit or by a GP. It’s when they are administered with compassion, knowledge and informed consent that they can really make a difference.
For more information about hyperemesis gravidarum, its treatments and to get support for someone suffering, there is a UK charity called Pregnancy Sickness Support
Implanting two embryos during IVF can cut the chance of becoming pregnant by more than a quarter if one of the embryos is in a poorer state of health, new research suggests.
A study of almost 1,500 embryos that were implanted in women of all ages found that putting back a healthier embryo with one of poorer quality dramatically cut the chance of a successful pregnancy compared to just transferring one embryo.
Experts behind the study believe that the body tends to focus on the embryo termed the one of poorer quality and rejects a possible pregnancy, rather than focusing on the healthy embryo that would lead to a successful birth.
The research, being presented at the British Fertility Society annual conference in Edinburgh, involved data for 1,472 fresh single and double embryo transfers on day five after fertilisation (blastocyst stage).
The transfers were carried out between between June 2009 and December 2013 at the Nurture Fertility clinic in Nottingham. Embryos were graded by an embryologist at the time of embryo transfer using a standardised grading system in IVF.
The results showed that compared to transferring a single embryo, transferring two embryos where one was good quality and one was poor resulted in a 27% lower chance of achieving a pregnancy.
Transferring two embryos of good quality was also no better than one for achieving a pregnancy.
Nick Raine-Fenning, medical director and research lead at Nurture Fertility, said: “The current feeling is that a good embryo will be recognised by the body and will be captured for implantation. But a poor quality embryo should be rejected by your body, your endometrium will reject it. What our research suggests is that if you put a poorer quality embryo back with a good one, it’s more likely to compromise the chance of the good one implanting.”
He said he would recommend that any woman with a good embryo – especially older women – should just have one embryo put back in their body.
“In their first cycle I would absolutely recommend that women – even older women – have one embryo transferred and the second embryo is frozen for future transfer,” he said.
He added: “This research shows the importance of quality over quantity. It helps better guide the contribution and risk when considering replacing a second embryo. Most patients understandably expect adding a second embryo will increase or even double their chances but this has never been the case.
“We hope this research will help clinics further reduce the number of multiple births, whilst crucially keeping their success rates high.”
The research did, however, show that if women only had two poorer quality embryos, they still had a higher chance of falling pregnant than if just one embryo was transferred.
The regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) leads a campaign to persuade women of the benefits of having embryos transferred one at a time during IVF.
It points to research showing the risks of multiple births, including that twins are six times more likely to be born prematurely than single babies.
Long-term health problems of prematurity include breathing difficulties, cerebral palsy and other physical and learning problems, it says.
More than half of adult women of reproductive age in Brazil have actively tried to avoid pregnancy because of the Zika virus epidemic, according to a survey carried out there.
Brazil has confirmed far more malformations of the brain in babies born to mothers who were infected with Zika than any other country.
So far, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases of what is now being called congenital Zika syndrome; a further 7,246 cases are suspected but the link to the virus has not yet been firmly established.
The survey carried out in June, led by academics in Brazil, shows that 56% of women who responded have tried to avoid becoming pregnant as a result. The numbers are no different among those who describe themselves as having religious beliefs – 58% of Catholics and 55% of Evangelicals in the survey said they were avoiding pregnancy.
In a letter to the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare, Dr Debora Diniz from the University of Brasilia and colleagues say there is an urgent need for Brazil to reconsider its policies on family planning and abortion, to help women who want to avoid the risk of having a baby with brain malformation.
“As indicated by the high proportion of women who avoided pregnancy because of Zika, the Brazilian government must place reproductive health concerns at the centre of its response, including reviewing its continued criminalisation of abortion,” they write.
The government should ensure better access to contraceptive methods and information, they say, arguing for a wider range of methods to be made available. Long-lasting reversible contraception such as intrauterine devices are scarce, they say, and hormonal implants are unavailable through the public services.
Women’s groups are attempting to challenge Brazil’s abortion restrictions through the courts, arguing that those infected by the Zika virus should be permitted a termination.
The team conducted a face-to-face survey of more than 2,000 women, who are literate and between the ages of 18 and 38, which corresponds to 83% of the female population.
They found that 27% had not tried to avoid pregnancy and 16% were not planning to become pregnant anyway, regardless of the Zika epidemic.
The response reflects the geographical impact of the epidemic, with a higher proportion of women from the hard-hit north-eastern region (66%) trying to avoid pregnancy than in the south (46%).
“Black (64%) and brown (56%) women were more likely to report avoiding pregnancy than white women (51%), which also likely reflects the disproportionate impact of the epidemic among the most vulnerable racial groups,” they write.
An estimated 174,000 Brazilians are said by the ministry of health to have been infected with the Zika virus, although the last updated figure was in early July.
Actress Beverley Mitchell (remember her? she played Lucy Camden on the TV show 7th Heaven) announced she is expecting a baby girl in April, and she’s blogging about her pregnancy on People.com. In her first post she mentioned that her food allergies to yogurt, eggs, and cheese have gone away and she can now happily munch on things she hasn’t had in years, like pizza! I had no idea that pregnancy could affect allergies, so I decided to find out more.
By Maggie Puniewska
January 14, 2013
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Actress Beverley Mitchell (remember her? she played Lucy Camden on the TV show 7th Heaven) announced she is expecting a baby girl in April, and she’s blogging about her pregnancy on People.com.
In her first post she mentioned that her food allergies to yogurt, eggs, and cheese have gone away and she can now happily munch on things she hasn’t had in years, like pizza! I had no idea that pregnancy could affect allergies, so I decided to find out more. Turns out, Mitchell’s situation is not uncommon and many pregnant women find they can eat foods they had problems digesting in the past, says Sandra Hong, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. However, what Mitchell experienced is more accurately described as a food intolerance rather than a true food allergy. “Food intolerances are when people do not tolerate certain foods for various reasons, such as a lactose intolerance, which is caused by a low level of enzyme to break down lactose that is ingested,” Dr. Hong told me. “Food intolerances are not life threatening.” An intolerance affects the ability to digest a food and explains why people who are lactose intolerant may have to run to the bathroom after eating a grilled cheese sandwich. Food allergies on the other hand, are more serious. “A food allergy occurs when a person develops an IgE antibody to a particular protein found in foods. The common foods causing food allergies are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and seafoods, soy, and wheat,” says Dr. Hong. “If a person has this IgE antibody and they come in contact with the food they are allergic to, they can have an immediate life threatening anaphylactic reaction.”Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction with symptoms such as shortness of breath, facial swelling, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a sensation that you want to pass out, and low blood pressure, says Dr. Hong. While it is possible for food intolerances to fluctuate (like during pregnancy), that’s less likely with food allergies. So if you are truly allergic to a food, don’t expect pregnancy to be a safe time to eat it! So how can you tell if you have a food intolerance or food allergy? Your doctor can perform a blood or skin test to help accurately diagnose the difference. If it’s an allergy, it’s potentially dangerous to try to eat the food during pregnancy. “If a mother is truly allergic to a food, it can be life threatening for both herself and the fetus if she ingests the food and has an anaphylactic reaction,” she says. But with careful eating habits, food allergies don’t have to be a great threat to your pregnancy. And if like Mitchell, your lactose intolerance has subsided, go ahead and treat yourself to a chocolate milkshake! Read more:
As a Certified Aromatherapist I am passionate about helping people use essential oils safely. Most essential oils can be applied to the skin safely as long as they are properly diluted with a carrier oil. Of course, some essential oils carry their own guidelines in order to ensure safe topical application, please be sure to research every essential oil prior to use to ensure you are blending within the guidelines of that particular essential oil.
In my previous blog post I covered some basics when it comes to proper essential oil dilution. In this post, I want to go a little more in depth so you can rest assured you are using essential oils safely.
An essential oil is a volatile plant compound. Being volatile means that essential oils evaporate quickly. Their note (Top, middle or base) determines just how fast they evaporate. Generally speaking we can say that:
Citrus peels are top notes and will evaporate the fastest. Some examples: Lemon (Citrus limon) & Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
Flowers, Leaves and Stems are middle notes and will evaporate the second fastest. Some examples: Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) & Geranium (Pelargonium roseum X asperum)
*An exception would be Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) which is distilled from flowers but is considered more of a base note than a middle note*
Roots are base notes and will evaporate the third fastest. Some examples: Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi or Nardostachys grandiflora) & Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
You can see from the examples above how notes play a part in aromatherapy. By looking at the note of an essential oil you can determine how quickly it will evaporate in a blend. Diluting essential oils in a carrier is a must in order to allow the essential oil to “hang out” longer than it would if you were to apply the essential oil neat. By diluting the essential oil properly in a carrier, you end up using less essential oil and the outcome will be just as effective. Most essential oils can be applied to the skin safely as long as they are properly diluted.
*Neat use of an essential oil refers to using the essential oil straight from the bottle and applying it to the skin.
Essential oils are extremely concentrated. If you are making a blend for daily use and are a typical healthy adult, a 2% dilution (10-12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier) or less would be recommended. If you are blending for a child, the elderly or someone that is pregnant, there are extra considerations that need to be taken into effect.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the first trimester is considered the most crucial in terms of fetal development.
Essential oil use during the first trimester should only be used on occasion such as inhaling for morning sickness.
During the second and third trimesters, essential oil use should be limited to an as needed basis at a 1% dilution (5-6 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier).
Neat use, oral, rectal and vaginal use is not appropriate during pregnancy.
All solvent extracted (absolutes) essential oils, poor quality oils and perfumes should be avoided while pregnant.
There are roughly 50 or so essential oils that should be avoided all together during pregnancy, please be sure to consult a Certified Aromatherapist, Midwife or other qualified practitioner prior to using essential oils while pregnant. While there isn’t an authoritative list per se of which essential oils are safe or unsafe its best to choose essential oils with a history of low toxicity.
Elderly
Caution should be noted when making a blend for the elderly population, their skin tends to be thinner than that of a typical healthy adult.
Elderly tend to have a lower irritation threshold when it comes to essential oil use than that of a typical healthy adult.
Recommended dilution for the elderly population is 1% or less (a 1% dilution is 5-6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier).
Essential oils should always be properly diluted when working with the elderly population. Neat use is not recommended unless under the supervision of a Certified Aromatherapist or other qualified health practitioner.
Children
Let me start this category by saying, as a Certified Aromatherapist I take an extremely conservative approach when it comes to essential oil use and children. Children are much more delicate than a typical healthy adult. I have found in my practice that herbally infused oils and/or hydrosols can give their little bodies the nudge it needs to get back on track without ever having to use essential oils. Children and essential oils have caused much debate on a number of Facebook groups I am a part of. I have seen a lot of individuals recommend dilutions for children that would be appropriate for a typical adult, however children come with their own set of dilution guidelines.
To put it into a better perspective, I like to use this analogy with my clients; If an adult dose of Tylenol cures your headache, you wouldn’t in turn give that same adult does to your 2 year old when they are complaining of a headache, now would you? There are specially formulated variations of Tylenol for children and babies based on their delicate systems. Essential oil formulations are no different.
General Guidelines for Children
Age < 2 years – Consult a Certified Aromatherapist
Age 2 – 4 years – Only use essential oils on an as needed basis for this age group at a dilution of .05% or less. Keep in mind certain essential oils carry safety considerations for children that should be taken into account
Age 5 – 12 years – Essential oils may be used at a 1% dilution (5-6 drops per ounce of carrier). Keep in mind certain essential oils carry safety considerations for children that should be taken into account
Very low ambient intermittent* inhalation is generally safe for babies ages 3 months and up and children that are too young for topical application. When diffusing around babies and children essential oils should limited to just a few drops per 24 hours. Be sure to choose extremely gentle age appropriate essential oils and keep diffuser use to 30 minutes at a time. Diffuser use with babies and small children should be limited and used on an as needed basis. When in doubt be sure to consult a Certified Aromatherapist.
*Intermittent use refers to 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off
I can not stress enough how important it is to use caution when utilizing essential oils with children. Essential oils are extremely concentrated substances. Often times children are too young to effectively communicate if they are having an adverse reaction to an essential oil blend. Please be sure to consult a Certified Aromatherapist or other knowledgeable practitioner when making a blend for a child and always be sure to research the particular essential oil you are choosing to use to be sure there aren’t any safety precautions that need to be considered.
As you can see there are so many factors that come into play when formulating an essential oil blend. I hope this post sheds some light on additional safety factors that should be taken into consideration when creating the perfect essential oil blend for a friend or loved one.
Looking for more dilution guidelines with a handy chart? Be sure to check out my other blog post here. Questions about Aromatherapy or any of the guidelines above? Feel free to email me at Sara@Pneuma.online or go to my website Pneuma.online
Some believe that papaya is harmful during pregnancy. Yet, many pregnant women still eat this fruit to get rich vitamins and minerals. Papaya fruit grows in tropical areas and is characterized by the outer green cover and it has a yellow color from the inside. It’s also known as the angels fruit.
This tropical fruit has many benefits and widely present in weight loss diets to boost the immune system, digestion and the renewal of skin cells. It’s rich in Vitamins “C” and “E”, in addition to dietary fiber which exists in abundance. Papayas also contain folic acid, a vitamin that is recommended taking during pregnancy. Papayas are best when eaten in the mornings during breakfast.
Papaya health benefits:
Papaya fruit contains a high percentage of fiber that prevents constipation and works to facilitate the digestion and absorption of food in the intestine.
One of the papaya prominent roles is reducing the oxidation of cholesterol in the body because they contain a variety of antioxidants, which also supports the protection against cancers.
Papaya fruit is very rich in vitamin A, which strengthens the sight and maintains the human hair.
They contain vitamins A and C, which makes it an important factor in building a strong immune system.
It helps to protect the body from infections, especially arthritis.
Papaya during pregnancy:
Papaya provides nutritional benefits for pregnant woman and the fetus. However, it should be avoided if its unripe (immature papaya), because it contains a substance called latex that can be harmful during pregnancy.
Research has shown that a high concentration of latex in the body can cause uterine contractions, which may lead to abortion.
There are advantages of eating this fruit according to papaya in pregnancy guide, as it helps to ease out the bowel movement and neutralizing acid formation in the stomach. In addition, to reduce the gaseous distension which is a regular symptom in pregnancy.
It is best to avoid unripe papayas or even a semi-mature once during pregnancy. And eat fruit ripe papaya in moderation during pregnancy to avoid any risk. Also, pregnant women that suffer from contraction pain regularly should avoid this fruit.
Finally, it’s better to be taking the advice of your physician before taking papayas to take caution.
Pregnancy pain and aches are apparent during every pregnancy. Although pregnancy pains and aches are different for every woman many of the organic remedies are the same. Organic remedies for pregnancy pains and aches have been around for centuries and are still the best choice for ensuring a healthy birth and a healthy baby.
Before opting for over the counter medications or prescription based treatment try organic remedies for pregnancy pain and aches first.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness often occurs at the beginning of pregnancy but has been known to last throughout. Morning sickness doesn’t always occur in the morning. It can be throughout the day or when the mother wakes from an afternoon nap. In order to reduce morning sickness a series of different organic remedies may need to be tried to see which works best. Fortunately there are plenty to choose from:
Eat and Drink Healthy – Avoid overly large meals and foods high in carbohydrates, sugars and oils. Foods that are easier to digest and contain enough protein and vitamins will go a long way for preventing and reducing morning sickness. Opt for healthier foods such as cheese, yogurt and milk as well as crackers and toast. Avoid sugary drinks and drinks with too much caffeine. Various juices too can be too high in sugars. Teas, lemon water and even ginger ale will help to reduce feelings of nausea naturally.
Sour and Peppermint Candy or Ginger – Sour and peppermint candy can help to prevent feelings of nausea as these flavors are known to alleviate nausea symptoms. If candy is not your preference than try ginger. Gingerol in ginger has been found to reduce nausea due its inflammatory properties that help to eliminate stomach acid. Try grating fresh ginger over home cooked meals and even brew fresh ginger in boiling water for a tea to settle the stomach.
Aromatherapy and Meditation – Much of what we taste is influenced by our sense of smell. As well as certain smells can trigger nausea and morning sickness. Find what smells relax you and begin including candles and incense wherever you can. Some smells that reduce nausea symptoms include lemon, mint and ginger. If aromatherapy is not your route than try meditating several times throughout the day. Morning sickness can be more common in a stressful environment however, by meditating throughout the day stress levels can be reduced to help alleviate symptoms of nausea.
Back Pain
Back pain occurs most frequently during pregnancy from the ligaments relaxing from pregnancy hormones. Back pain can also occur from natural weight gain as well as the changes in your posture from the growth of the baby. These three factors cause major discomfort in the upper and lower back during all stages of pregnancy and can increase in pain towards the last few months.
In order to reduce or prevent back pain during pregnancy some of the first organic remedies should be to immediately change your daily life style. From standing too long in one spot to lifting heavy objects your daily schedule should be suited to your physical capabilities. Increase exercise routines that are safe during pregnancy to strengthen and maintain your muscles and ligaments. Increase the amount of pillows you sleep with at night in order to reduce discomfort. As often as possible receive massages in areas of the body that are sore.
Aromatherapy, acupuncture and even certain homeopathic remedies have been also known to work for back pain during pregnancy. Organic remedies for pregnancy pain and aches include relaxing in a hot bath with essential oils such as lavender, mint and lemon. Acupuncture tends to mitigate lower back pain by redirecting “energy pathways” through the use of fine needles. As well as various topical creams can be used on sore muscles in order to alleviate the pain and to relax the muscles.
Headaches and Heartburn
Often time’s headaches occur as part of pregnancy pains and aches. If all criteria are met, you are well hydrated and nourished, than headaches may occur just from the body experiencing changes and from the baby growing. If this is the case lie down in a dark room with little to no noise. Receive massages as often as possible and experiment with various relaxation techniques. These techniques can include yogic and tantric exercises, deep breathing exercises and even meditation.
During pregnancy heartburn often occurs because of the changes the baby is experiencing. Even if healthy foods and beverages are consumed heartburn can still occur. If heartburn occurs frequently than reduce the size of your meal and consume smaller meals more frequently. Increase the time between your last meals of the day and before you sleep as well. While heartburn is occurring try chewing sugarless gum which stimulates saliva to have an acid-neutralizing effect or drink from a soothing beverage such as warm milk with a teaspoon of honey. Various teas including ginger tea will also help to reduce symptoms of heartburn.
Pregnancy pain and aches are apparent during every pregnancy. Although pregnancy pains and aches are different for every woman many of the organic remedies are the same. Organic remedies for pregnancy pains and aches have been around for centuries and are still the best choice for ensuring a healthy birth and a healthy baby.
Before opting for over the counter medications or prescription based treatment try organic remedies for pregnancy pain and aches first.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness often occurs at the beginning of pregnancy but has been known to last throughout. Morning sickness doesn’t always occur in the morning. It can be throughout the day or when the mother wakes from an afternoon nap. In order to reduce morning sickness a series of different organic remedies may need to be tried to see which works best. Fortunately there are plenty to choose from:
Eat and Drink Healthy – Avoid overly large meals and foods high in carbohydrates, sugars and oils. Foods that are easier to digest and contain enough protein and vitamins will go a long way for preventing and reducing morning sickness. Opt for healthier foods such as cheese, yogurt and milk as well as crackers and toast. Avoid sugary drinks and drinks with too much caffeine. Various juices too can be too high in sugars. Teas, lemon water and even ginger ale will help to reduce feelings of nausea naturally.
Sour and Peppermint Candy or Ginger – Sour and peppermint candy can help to prevent feelings of nausea as these flavors are known to alleviate nausea symptoms. If candy is not your preference than try ginger. Gingerol in ginger has been found to reduce nausea due its inflammatory properties that help to eliminate stomach acid. Try grating fresh ginger over home cooked meals and even brew fresh ginger in boiling water for a tea to settle the stomach.
Aromatherapy and Meditation – Much of what we taste is influenced by our sense of smell. As well as certain smells can trigger nausea and morning sickness. Find what smells relax you and begin including candles and incense wherever you can. Some smells that reduce nausea symptoms include lemon, mint and ginger. If aromatherapy is not your route than try meditating several times throughout the day. Morning sickness can be more common in a stressful environment however, by meditating throughout the day stress levels can be reduced to help alleviate symptoms of nausea.
Back Pain
Back pain occurs most frequently during pregnancy from the ligaments relaxing from pregnancy hormones. Back pain can also occur from natural weight gain as well as the changes in your posture from the growth of the baby. These three factors cause major discomfort in the upper and lower back during all stages of pregnancy and can increase in pain towards the last few months.
In order to reduce or prevent back pain during pregnancy some of the first organic remedies should be to immediately change your daily life style. From standing too long in one spot to lifting heavy objects your daily schedule should be suited to your physical capabilities. Increase exercise routines that are safe during pregnancy to strengthen and maintain your muscles and ligaments. Increase the amount of pillows you sleep with at night in order to reduce discomfort. As often as possible receive massages in areas of the body that are sore.
Aromatherapy, acupuncture and even certain homeopathic remedies have been also known to work for back pain during pregnancy. Organic remedies for pregnancy pain and aches include relaxing in a hot bath with essential oils such as lavender, mint and lemon. Acupuncture tends to mitigate lower back pain by redirecting “energy pathways” through the use of fine needles. As well as various topical creams can be used on sore muscles in order to alleviate the pain and to relax the muscles.
Headaches and Heartburn
Often time’s headaches occur as part of pregnancy pains and aches. If all criteria are met, you are well hydrated and nourished, than headaches may occur just from the body experiencing changes and from the baby growing. If this is the case lie down in a dark room with little to no noise. Receive massages as often as possible and experiment with various relaxation techniques. These techniques can include yogic and tantric exercises, deep breathing exercises and even meditation.
During pregnancy heartburn often occurs because of the changes the baby is experiencing. Even if healthy foods and beverages are consumed heartburn can still occur. If heartburn occurs frequently than reduce the size of your meal and consume smaller meals more frequently. Increase the time between your last meals of the day and before you sleep as well. While heartburn is occurring try chewing sugarless gum which stimulates saliva to have an acid-neutralizing effect or drink from a soothing beverage such as warm milk with a teaspoon of honey. Various teas including ginger tea will also help to reduce symptoms of heartburn.
A precipitous drop in the US teenage pregnancy rate to record lows was driven by improved use of contraception, a new analysis from the Guttmacher Institute found.
“There was no significant change in adolescent sexual activity during this time period,” Dr Laura Lindberg, a principal research scientist with the Guttmacher Institute and the paper’s lead author, said in a statement. “Rather, our new data suggest that recent declines in teens’ risk of pregnancy – and in their pregnancy rates – are driven by increased contraceptive use.”
Linberg and her co-authors found that while teenage girls’ sexual activity remained constant from 2007 to 2012, the percentage of sexually active teens who used at least one type of birth control the last time they had sex increased significantly, rising from 78% to 86%.
The researchers found the use of all “highly effective methods”, like the birth control pill or IUD, increased from 2007 to 2009. There was a marginal significant increase in the use of the IUD or implant from 2007 to 2009 and in use of the pill overall. There were non-significant increases in condom use and withdrawal, while use of the ring or patch declined significantly over the 2007 to 2012 period.
The changes in contraceptive use resulted in a 28% decline in pregnancy risk index from 2007 to 2012. Not only did improvements in contraceptive use drive that entire decline, but they were also responsible for neutralizing a 6% rise in risk over the same period due to increased sexual activity among teens. The pregnancy risk index is a calculation that “summarizes the risk of pregnancy among all adolescent women, estimating the influence of both changes in the level of recent sexual activity and changes in the level of contraceptive risk”, according to the study.
In April, the Guttmacher Institute reported that the national pregnancy rate declined 23%from 2008 to 2011 for women aged 15 to 19, falling from a rate of 68.2 pregnancies per 1,000 women to 52.4. That means about 5% of teens became pregnant in 2011. It was the “lowest rate observed in the last four decades”, they said, with declines across all 50 states and racial and ethnic groups, though some disparities remained. In 2011, they found a rate of 31.3 births per 1,000 teen women, down from 40.2 in 2008, and 13.5 abortions per 1,000 teen women, down from 18.1 in 2008.
The new study used data from the National Survey of Family Growth, a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on sexual activity, contraceptive use and contraceptive failures to estimate the pregnancy risk index for the years 2007, 2009 and 2012.
The authors noted it was important to ensure teenagers’ “access to comprehensive sexuality education that provides medically accurate information about contraception”. They wrote that the percentage of adolescents “who report receiving formal instruction about birth control has declined, while the share receiving only abstinence instruction has increased”. The American Academy of Pediatricians recently urged doctors to fill in the gaps of sexual health education with their patients. They noted that abstinence-heavy education is a concern for doctors when it comes to reducing sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, as those programs can exclude information about contraceptives.
The internet, the authors suggested, can offer new opportunities for teenagers looking for information on sexual health, and recommend further research to examine that hypothesis. A separate study from last year found a correlation between decline in transmission of sexually transmitted infections and access to high-speed internet.
“Policy discussions should focus on supporting teen contraceptive use generally, including ensuring access to a full range of contraceptive education, counseling and methods,” Heather Boonstra, the Guttmacher Institute’s director of public policy, said in the release.
The Guttmacher Institute’s study used data up until 2012, however, more recent data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey “shows sharp declines in sexual activity among high school students from 2013 to 2015 – after a long plateau from 2001 to 2013”, the authors wrote. “At this point, it is unclear whether these new data represent a new trend or are the result of other factors,” the authors wrote.
Another analysis from earlier this month found that millennials are having less sex than those in previous generations.
Magda, a 29-year-old software developer, regularly fends off questions about when she will have her first child. Coming from a close-knit family and having been with her boyfriend for a decade, the topic is brought up regularly. But Magda grimaces in response, only to be told: “Don’t leave it too late.”
For Magda, the question of when she wants to have a child is complex. There is a serious history of depression and psychosis in her family on both sides. In fact, her mother was sectioned for a long time after giving birth to her.
“I’m not just concerned about passing on mental health problems to any child I might have, I also have serious concerns about the risk to my own wellbeing from having a baby,” she says.
She also worries about the kind of treatment she might receive if she were to have problems. “I’m acutely aware of how awful the mental health support can be in the NHS. I have witnessed failing after failing in the care of my mother. If I speak to a GP about my concerns, will they care and offer advice? If I did decide to have a baby, would they make sure I’m looked after through pregnancy and beyond?”
This is just one of the individual stories sent to the Guardian as part of a project inviting people to discuss the often taboo topic of mental health and pregnancy.
Between 10 and 20% of women in the UK develop a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year after having a baby. This costs the NHS around £8bn for each annual birth cohort. Conditions range from postnatal depression to obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis.
It’s not just women either: one in eight first-time fathers suffer from depression while their partner is pregnant, according to a survey by scientists at McGill University in Canada.
Despite this, new NHS England figures show less than 15% of areas currently provide recommended services for mothers with mental health issues, and more than 40% provide no service at all. In almost half of the UK, pregnant women and new mothers do not have access to specialist perinatal mental health services – with even less specific support in place for men.
It’s an issue the government has pledged to address, with £365m allocated for specialist perinatal mental health services over the next five years, the the first tranche of which has just been made available.
So, why is help desperately needed and what sort of experiences do people have? Here are our readers’ stories.
The decision to have a child
For some, like Magda, the challenge begins before pregnancy – many women and men experiencing mental health problems worry about their children developing similar conditions. They also worry about how their condition could affect their ability to be a parent.
A lot of times my days are coping minute to minute. I don’t know if that puts me in a good position to raise a child
Daniel Stusiak, 37, from Aberdeen, South Dakota,has type-two bipolar disorder. In the audio recording above, he explains how his mental health problems influenced his decision not to have children.
When it comes to having children I have two thoughts. One, genetically I don’t like the idea of gambling and seeing whether I pass it on… Second, should that child not have to deal with that, they will have to deal with me as their father and a lot of times my days are coping minute to minute. I don’t know if that puts me in a good position to raise a child in the best way.
The medication question
A lot of women also have to weigh up whether or not they are prepared to come off their medication to have a child. While some drugs are considered relatively safe the evidence is not conclusive, and some have been linked to health problems in babies.
But those who come off any medication are at risk of getting ill again: for example, seven out of every 10 women who stop antidepressants in early pregnancy become unwell again.
Harriet, 32, Stoke-on-Trent
Giving birth was much more painful and difficult than I ever imagined it would be
I have been told that I may need medication for life to treat my anxiety and depression. When I decided to have a baby, my main fear was that the drugs would be dangerous and I’d have to come off them. I was scared of falling ill, which had happened when I came off medication before – when I was at my worst I had extreme panic attacks about 10 times a day.
My dad, who is a doctor, assured me that citalopram is generally considered OK during pregnancy. But babies born to depressed mothers can have worse growth and general health.
I talked to my husband and I decided it was safer for me to stay on the drugs. However, I still found the pregnancy very stressful. I worried constantly about miscarrying. I was offered a reassurance scan but it made me more stressed because they noticed a slight abnormality in the baby’s brain. It turned out to be nothing, but I completely broke down. I could not function for weeks and struggled with the rest of the pregnancy.
Since the birth my mental health has improved. I love being a mum and my daughter makes me very happy. Giving birth was much more painful and difficult than I ever imagined it would be. Afterwards, you wake up to a life and a body that you don’t recognise. It’s not great for your self-esteem. I put on a huge amount of weight but the pain was definitely worth it.”
Mandy, 36, north-west England
I have borderline personality disorder and a social anxiety disorder. I stopped taking my medication (Escitalopram) when I was pregnant because I was worried about the health of my baby. Some doctors thought it was better I stay on the drug, while others disagreed, and because of this varying advice I stopped. However, coming off it caused me a lot of problems. I started self-harming, for example, and worried about everything. I ended up hiding in my house, which meant I couldn’t go back to work. With borderline personality disorder I can go very quickly from being level-headed to mentally unstable. Being pregnant made it harder to cope with this. I didn’t feel like my body was my own. I couldn’t harm myself physically to rid my mind of distressing thoughts.
I was referred to a mental health assessment team and put back on medication on a low dosage. I had one visit with the assessment team but found the nurse dismissive and unhelpful. They didn’t realise I’d had past mental health problems and were treating me as if I had just turned up with thoughts of harming myself. Once I explained to them that I presented before pregnancy I hoped they’d adjust their attitude towards me, perhaps offer more contact, but they didn’t.
I coped throughout the pregnancy mainly thanks to my husband and my GP, who I could talk more openly with, but I wish there had been more support from the assessment team.
Hannah from Yorkshire experienced anxiety before pregnancy, but chose to come off medication to treat this in order to have a child. Listen to her story below.
Antenatal
Postnatal depression is often reported on, but less attention is given to mental health issues during pregnancy. While it’s normal for women to experience “baby blues” as a result of hormonal changes, for a large number this is much more extreme. In fact, it is estimated that 7% to 20% percent of pregnant women are affected by what is known as antenatal depression, which if untreated can lead to postnatal depression after the birth.
Women and men can also experience a great deal of anxiety during pregnancy – it is thought that more than one in 10 women struggle with symptoms of anxiety while carrying a child.
I started to have horrible thoughts about my baby – thinking I had made a terrible mistake and wanted to get rid of it
Ariana, 25, London
I have never experienced mental health issues other than while I was pregnant. When I was around eight weeks, I started to feel upset. The baby hadn’t been planned, but I was ecstatic at first. However, depression soon took over. As the weeks went on it got worse – I hated people talking about the pregnancy and wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening. I started to have horrible thoughts about my baby – thinking I had made a terrible mistake and wanted to get rid of it. Bizarrely, I also decided that when the baby was born, I would swap it with another child in the hospital, and at least then they wouldn’t be my responsibility any more.
Fortunately by the time I was heavily pregnant, I didn’t feel negatively any more. I only felt sad that this thinking had ruined my early pregnancy for me. I now have a huge amount of sympathy for anyone who experiences depression.
After having my son, I stayed up all night on the maternity ward just watching him. I remember thinking he was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I still do now. He is three years old.
Postnatal depression is widely recognised, but there is less said about depression during pregnancy. I might have sought help if people talked about it more.
Leila experienced anxiety and depression during her pregnancy, having never had mental health problems before. You can hear about her experience in this recording.
I finally admitted to myself that I was seriously ill after weeks of considering throwing myself under the train
I finally admitted to myself that I was seriously ill after weeks of considering throwing myself under the train on my way to work, followed by weeks of not being able to get out of bed. I lacked the motivation to do anything: get dressed, wash my hair, let alone make any preparation for a new baby. There is a hormonal trigger to perinatal depression and the more the pregnancy progresses the greater the influence of hormones.
Miscarriages
There are no official government statistics held on women who miscarry (they are only collated for women admitted to hospital), but the pregnancy charity Tommy’s says around one in every four women with a BMI of over 30 will miscarry a child.
The effects of this last longer than you might imagine: a study in 2011 found that the depression and anxiety experienced by many women after a miscarriage can continue for years, even after the birth of a healthy child. Men are also affected, although perhaps differently. One British study of 323 men found that although they displayed less “active grief” than their female partners, they were more vulnerable to feelings of despair and difficulty in coping eight weeks following the loss.
Matt Allen, 38, from Brighton, shares his story of how miscarriage affected his mental health below.
Looking back on it it would have been better for me to have someone to talk to [after the miscarriage] and maybe drop the stigma that men have to be strong and carry everyone around them, because something like losing a child does affect us just as much emotionally.
Kaye, Manchester
I’m pregnant for the second time. My husband and I lost our first child when I had a miscarriage in my first trimester. It’s not something you get over. People around you think that it’s all about getting pregnant, but the waiting for the arrival of a healthy baby now is worse than any treatment. I suffer from crippling anxiety – crying at random times, waking up from nightmares. I can’t talk about being pregnant and am still trying to hide it at almost 20 weeks.
I wish that I could be offered some counselling. My partner and I received no support whatsoever from the NHS after the D&C [a surgical procedure often performed after a first-trimester miscarriage]. Only now, from reading the Miscarriage Association’s literature am I beginning to understand that the anxiety we are going through is common.
A viability scan should also be offered on the NHS at seven to eight weeks as a standard. This can really help to reassure new parents. I do think the NHS should have different support in place for people where this is a Pal (pregnancy after loss), and that includes silent miscarriages. Friends from abroad are often shocked at how few scans we get in the UK and that the chance to hear the baby’s heartbeat at midwife appointments isn’t standardised across the country.
Postnatal
Postnatal depression is an illness that affects between 10 to 15 in every 100 women having a baby. It can start within one or two months of giving birth. It’s also something that hits men too: studies predict about one dad in 10 has postnatal depression. Traditionally, the mother’s mental health gets more attention, but recognition of the dad’s mental health is increasing.
Alice, Midlands
I had my daughter a few years ago and read all the information I could get my hands on. After a difficult birth I eventually delivered my baby. I was exhausted (it took 48 hours in total) and shell-shocked. We stayed in hospital for a few days while trying to get my daughter to breastfeed. I was struggling so much with this that I refused to have any visitors as I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t cope. In the end I gave up so that we could all just go home. Luckily bottle feeding didn’t affect bonding with my baby.
However, my partner didn’t cope well at all. From seeing me in so much pain and out of control, he tried to take on far too much so that I could recover. His mental health spiralled as a result to the point where he couldn’t look at our baby. He couldn’t handle her crying and one day I found him crouched in a corner rocking. I got him to see a counsellor and the doctor advised that he would recover better if he moved out for a while. He went to live with his parents and we would visit, but he couldn’t cope with the guilt of leaving us.
Eventually we got through it and he was able to move back home with us. Unfortunately we didn’t make it as a couple; the strain was too much. Looking back I wish we’d have had more support in trying to deal with his depression but even though this was a few years ago, there was very little awareness about male postnatal depression and a lot of shame attached to it. I wish I could have helped more.
Emma, Manchester
I’d already had a baby and enjoyed being a mum, so when I fell pregnant again I never expected to experience postnatal depression.It was four months before I plucked up the courage to go and see the doctor. I kept telling myself to keep going, and that I could be a perfect mum like the ones you see plastered all over social media. Now I realise that it’s not real. To me, during the dark days that perfect picture wasn’t my life but boy did I try to achieve it. I was really struggling and I told no one. Admitting weakness was like putting my hand up and saying: “Look at me, the bad mum over here.”
The day I told my sister and my mum I was at my wits’ end. I cried the whole time. I paced the length of my house for half an hour before I finally made the call to my family. After that I went to the doctor. I thought he was going to laugh and tell me to just get on with it like every other mum, but he didn’t. He told me that this would be the last time I would feel this way and that every day, from today, I would start to feel better. Most importantly he made me realise for the first time in four months that I wasn’t a failing mother-of-two. I’d managed to keep my head above water through one of the most challenging times of my life.
We discussed options and I agreed that I would take tablets for depression and anxiety – it was time to give my body a little helping hand. He made me see some things are out of my control and postnatal depression can happen to anyone.
Psychosis
One of the most severe forms of illness seen in psychiatry are postpartum psychoses. In rare but tragic cases it can lead to women taking their own lives.It’s thought that postpartum psychosis affects women in every 1-2 of 1,000 births. It’s more likely to affect women who have had it before (or have a relative who has) or have a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Lisa Abramson, who suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter
Lisa Abramson, from San Francisco, experienced severe mental health difficulties after giving birth to her first child. She talks about postnatal psychosis in the audio recording below.
Leila, interviewed above, also experienced psychosis after pregnancy – as well as antenatal depression and anxiety. She talks about this below.
I completely lost touch with reality and was convinced my phone was communicating with me in code
I started to get hyper-manic and the effect that had, in terms of behaviour, meant that I would be wide awake all night. My mind would be racing and I was really driven to do things, for example I would reorganise the kitchen cupboard at 3am to 4am in the morning. I also wrote lists compulsively and used hand gestures, which I don’t normally do … then after that I became psychotic. I completely lost touch with reality and was convinced my phone was communicating with me in code. I thought it might be my father who had died three years previously. I thought I would just will with my mind ordering a pizza and it would be delivered to the door.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Research is limited but estimates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after delivery tend to be around 1-2% in high-income countries. One study in Sweden put the rate of postnatal PTSD at 2% in the first year after birth. While some women experience it after a particularly traumatic birth (with medical difficulties), others have PTSD from the birth process itself.
A spokesperson for the Birth Trauma Association said: “The help on offer for women is very patchy and generally poor. Individual health visitors and midwives may help but waiting lists are long – up to a year – and almost no one gets on a list for cognitive behaviour therapy or other treatment unless they have been symptomatic for at least 12 weeks.”
Bill, Staffordshire
My wife and I experienced the stillbirth of our first child, Andrew. It was very sudden, my wife noticed a lack of movement and we went to hospital. We saw a classic scan, but this time with no heartbeat. I carry the image with me to this day. The following days and weeks were traumatic. We were told that the chances of a future successful pregnancy were higher if my wife delivered Andrew naturally, so labour was induced gently. We then went to a dedicated maternity suite (where we were handled with exceptional care and attention by all staff). The delivery was normal, except that Andrew was not alive.
Following the stillbirth, I experienced post-traumatic stress disorder for which I have since received cognitive behavioural therapy. I had flash-backs of the traumatic delivery and the events immediately before and after, including my son’s funeral. I also suffered from an intense anxiety as we went through four more pregnancies – two ended in miscarriage and two ended inthe births of two wonderful boys. We constantly wondered about miscarriage, stillbirth and the chances of a good outcome. The mental health problems affected my work – I was constantly on high alert.
On the whole the NHS was marvellous. Their care when we lost Andrew was excellent in the circumstances. My wife got support during the pregnancies and for the way in which the stillbirth affected her. However, there was less attention on the father. I was not prepared mentally for the immense impact that this would have on me.
On the whole the NHS was marvellous. Their care when we lost Andrew was excellent in the circumstances
Emma, Midlands
I had a traumatic first birth and my baby was in neonatal care, which left me struggling with what I know now to be PTSD and perinatal anxiety. I didn’t understand what was happening, so tried to carry on as normal. I became pregnant again 14 months later by accident and really suffered. I believed I would die, writing letters to all my family and counting down the days until I would leave this world. I had awful anxiety, flashbacks and was terrified all the time. I didn’t trust healthcare professionals, hated going to the hospital for appointments and didn’t know who I could approach for help. I became a shell, empty and full of fear.
I wish that my traumatic birth had been acknowledged and that I had been asked how I was coping in my next pregnancy. I wish that there had been counselling, more information around having a difficult birth. I wish I’d just been asked how I was, not physically but mentally. I wish there had been continuity of care so that I had someone I trusted care for me. It took me 15 years to get a correct diagnosis after the second birth and even then there was no specialist treatment support available.
Obsessive compulsive disorder
It’s thought to affect 2-4% of all new mothers, but – until recently – has received relatively little research attention. Some women develop obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for the first time either during pregnancy or shortly afterwards, while others find it makes a pre-exisitng condition worse. This is partly down to the fact that pregnancy is a time of increased stress, with most women becoming concerned about protecting their baby. It is a time of major physical change, which can cause difficulties.
It’s not just down to hormones, however, and some fathers also experience postnatal OCD because of their feeling of responsibility to protect their new baby.
May, Birmingham
I was diagnosed with OCD following the birth of my first child. I was experiencing intrusive thoughts about my son coming to harm (and that I might actually be the one to harm him). I have suffered from recurrent depressive episodes throughout my life.This and the severe anxiety I was experiencing led me to spend a lot of my maternity leave sitting at home, waiting for something terrible to happen.
My midwife noticed during my pregnancy that I was feeling anxious and referred me to a mental health clinic at the local women’s hospital. I continued to attend there after my pregnancy and, as things spiralled out of control, I was prescribed antidepressants and given a place in a group therapy session. I was admitted to hospital – in a dedicated mother and baby unit – for two months as things failed to improve.
The care I received was wonderful – I cannot fault it at all. I had never imagined that I might be suffering from OCD, and once I had my diagnosis and began cognitive behavioural therapy, the depressive episodes in the past began to make sense. I was treated with utter respect and kindness both as an outpatient and an inpatient, and have since been able to return to work. I feel very lucky that I had access to this service, and that it was so close to home. I know that this isn’t the case for most women.
•Some names have been changed.
• In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here
Late in my pregnancy with my daughter, Layla, I had a glass of red wine each and every after in a although. And while I took prenatal nutritional vitamins, I am confident I missed a day somewhere in there. I definitely – completely, without having-a-doubt – ate far more junk foods than is advised by most overall health organizations. Does that imply I should go to jail? It may possibly sound ridiculous, but that is the really genuine slippery slope we’re on, thanks to laws criminalizing pregnant females – and treating their personhood as secondary to their pregnancy.
Earlier this month in Tennessee, 26-12 months-outdated new mother Mallory Loyola grew to become the initial man or woman arrested below a new law that makes using narcotics even though pregnant a criminal offense. Loyola is facing charges of assault against her fetus – she was arrested two days following birth, soon after she allegedly tested good for amphetamines.
Even though Tennessee is the only US state with an explicit law criminalizing drug use by pregnant women, Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of the Nationwide Advocates for Pregnant Females, says that a number of states arrest pregnant ladies anyway, basically by classifying fetuses as youngsters.
Alabama, for instance, has arrested over a hundred pregnant girls because 2006 beneath a law meant to quit men and women from bringing kids to spot where medication are created, like meth labs. And earlier this year, that state’s supreme court ruled that women can be charged with “chemical endangerment” of a kid if they use a managed substance although pregnant. The definition of pregnancy is so broad, Paltrow says, that a woman could smoke some pot with her boyfriend one particular evening, have intercourse, get pregnant and, below Alabama law, face ten many years in jail for that one use of marijuana.
Clearly, undertaking medicines even though pregnant is a horrible thought. But criminalizing addicted pregnant ladies who want remedy is negative for babies and their mothers. It is a quick-phrase, punitive measure with no optimistic lasting impact to merely make sure that pregnant women who require drug remedy and pre-natal care will not look for either of those possibilities, for fear of getting their youngsters taken away from them.
It also raises queries of just how a state will go about obtaining pregnant ladies to prosecute: I’m betting the local prosecutor’s office will not be performing random drug-testing in hospitals populated largely by affluent white patients.
And Paltrow says that targeting drug-utilizing females is just the start. “This is about generating pregnant women – from the time an egg is fertilized – subject to state surveillance, manage and excessive punishment.”
But beyond the troubles of these present laws, criminalizing women’s actions for the duration of pregnancy is a harmful street to go down. How extended will ahead of drinking whilst pregnant is illegal? Will we arrest a person like me who had an occasional glass of wine? What if a woman decides not to get prenatal vitamins? Or has a C-segment towards her doctor’s suggestions? (That one is less hypothetical: a girl in Utah was charged with murder because she delivered a stillborn little one following her medical doctor advised towards a vaginal birth.)
Even worse, what happens when we determine that policing presently-pregnant females isn’t ample?
As I reported in my book, Why Have Little ones?, the government has lengthy been on a mission to minimize ladies to vessels for pregnancy. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Management and Prevention launched suggestions instructing all women of childbearing age – whether they have been pregnant or not, whether they even had strategies to turn out to be pregnant or not – to care for their “pre-conception” overall health. Starting as quickly as ladies got their first time period right up until they hit menopause, the CDC said that girls need to take folic acids, not smoke or “misuse” alcohol, refrain from drug use, steer clear of “high chance sexual conduct” and sustain a healthy weight. (There go my twenties!) What could eventually take place if a female have been to not follow these guidelines and have a miscarriage or stillbirth? Could she be sent to jail, also?
A world in which all females who can get pregnant are considered “pre-pregnant” – and in which the state has more of a vested curiosity in safeguarding any embryo or fetus at any stage of development than the woman herself – is the stuff of nightmares, and a scary potential that’s previously upon us.
But a pregnant female is still a person below the law, with the appropriate to make selections – even poor ones – about her personal entire body. Alternatively of residing in some Margaret Atwood-design dystopian world in which we regulate, check and punish vulnerable pregnant ladies, let’s instead make positive that people who require help, get it – and not from within a jail cell.
