martes, 7 de diciembre de 2010

Pregnant stupidity

There are a lot of myths in the magic world of pregnancy. But some of them are really, really stupid.

This one comes really often, usually in any conversation that involves hospitals, drugs, tests, ultrasounds, and epidurals.
-You see, not so many years ago, women gave birth on their houses, without all this crap, and they were perfectly fine.
No, they were not! Giving birth was a high risk activity. Women died giving birth. Women still die in numerous places of this world because they don't have "all that crap". Most of those women would be very happy to give birth in a hospital, get epidurals, doctors looking at their vaginas, machines, medicines and a big package of blood prep in case it would be necessary. Not to mention that it is thanks to "all that crap" that now you don't need to make five babies just to make sure that one of them will survive to inherit the family land.

This one may be particular to Czech Republic, where women stay three years home after giving birth.
-You are going back to work so soon? But the baby needs his mum. He will be still having milk.
And he still can do it! Even in room temperature, mother milk is good for a couple of days, weeks in the fridge! Baby needs his mother, no doubt. And his daddy. And them to pay the mortgage. It would be nice for the woman to stay home, sure, but if the side effect is that you give up your career and daddy doesn't get to see the baby, I am not willing to take it. To me, the milk thing sounds more like a made up justification for an unjust situation. Pretty much like the bullshit we used to hear in nuns school about the woman having a "very important role in church".
Plus, it may be tough for a year, but the baby will love having a successful woman as a mum for the next twenty years of her life. Not only is a better example and can help with homework, but it will be very useful when she needs somebody to give her advices for her first job.

-It will be a boy/girl because "Insert stupidity here"
Ok, it is fun trying to guess, but there are people really convinced about their personal unscientifical belief. The shape of the belly, the number of spots in the face, if you vomited during the firsts months and the Chinese calendar.
If any of that was any useful, somebody would make millions selling this knowledge in China and India. Thanks god none of them works.


Pregnancy symptoms:
Another delightful little known side effect. Candidiasis. i.e. fungus. And another delightful little know side effect of living in Czech. My gynecologist doesn’t remember I’m pregnant and try to give me antibiotics.

Mother instinct: I just wrote that I’m not willing to give up my career to devote myself to a baby. What do you think?