Create a healthy plan, then try for a baby

I think the problem with this article, like so many others aimed at women, is that it doesn't acknowledge the reality of living in a country without universal access to healthcare, including prenatal care. Including birth control, as well, which might account for some of that high percentage of unplanned births. Birth defects aren't just related to smoking or drinking; they also come from consuming polluted food or water and lack of good nutrition. If we tackled these problems, it would be a lot more effective in combatting birth defects and premature births than shaking our fingers at women who don't have "life reproduction plans."

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I never went to the dr pre-pregnancy for multiple reasons. One my insurance wouldn't cover it. They would cover a yearly, but not a visit to talk about me getting pregnant. What would happen if the dr wanted to see me back in 6 weeks to check me again? All out of pocket. Also, I was always afraid my dr would try and talk me out of it. Or say well you should drop a few pounds first, improve you diet, take vitamins for a few months, and then come back and see me; or having a baby is a big deal, are you sure you are ready? blah, blah, blah. When the time was right for me, it was right. And no matter what the doc said, I would still try, so whats the point of going? Go to CVS get some folic acid, and get busy! :)

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Taking care of yourself and being healthy is all well and good - but this type of message just reeks of pointing fingers at the victims. Until the country takes healthcare and health/environmental issues serious, this "take your vitamins" "don't do drugs" approach is just a cop-out. Plus, it's a little Handmaids Tale, isn't it?

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I love my general and discussed with him my thoughts of pregnancy. I asked him for recommendations on an OB and what he thought was a good idea for the birthing process. I would guess that I did have a "reproductive plan".

I agree with emjaybee about the universal health care. I discussed my plans with my doctor at my yearly physical. My inurance pays for my birth control and for my prenatal visits. I think it is everyones right to get the same kind of treatment I get. It is only humane.

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Ohh, Kate, I hadn't thought about it being all "Handmaids Tale" but you are so right! I loved and was completely terrified by that book in equal measure. While I certainly think that it is worthwhile to plan pregnancies and be relatively healthy and prepared for such, to suggest that all unplanned pregnancies can be avoided (or, um, dealt with, so to speak) is utterly ridiculous. How many wonderful people – including myself – would not be in this world if unplanned pregnancies didn’t happen.

I’m convinced that people who do these studies live in some sort of alternate universe where everything is controllable.

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Once again the experts are living in ivory towers. A day or two in any inner city might cause them to rethink their position.

It ties right in with the study a week or so ago that "suggested" that we start planning for pregnancy with our first period and continue through menopuase.

Also, some birth defects just happen. I had good insurance and excellent medical care with my second child. I wasn't working then and took pretty good care of myself.

My son was born two months early with cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. I've heard everything since then (almost 50 years ago) from "you must have done something wrong when you were pregnant" to "you must have sinned and this is God's punishment".

Now I look back and know how ridiculous both of those statements were but then I was nineteen years old and consumed with guilt.

Sure we should try to live healthy lives for our own sake but so should men. To single us out because we're the breeders and then blame us for failure is just wrong.

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I agree w/ so many others. It would be nice instead of putting all this squarely on the shoulders of women (like so many other things), that bigger societal issues be tended too: pollution, healthcare, education, equality, etc etc etc.

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I think that doctors are shifting the blame back to women because almost every study lately has proven two things 1) The medical community has no idea what causes preterm birth and 2) Bed rest does ABSOLUTELY nothing to improve the outcome.

A lot of their other favorite "life saving" interventions are also coming into question. (Or did you read the study that routine iron supplementation may be detrimental to the developing fetus?)

I really resent the cheap ploy to blame women, and we all know most women are more than ready to shoulder the blame for any problems with our children. In an ideal world we would all have access to good nutrition, clean water, accurate information, and health care when we need it. It would be nice if all pregnancies were planned too, but even most women who drink and/or do drugs (prescription or otherwise) before they know they are pregnant (even if it takes a month or two to have figure it out) go on to have healthy babies (I am not in any way implying it is ok to do these things knowingly while pregnant).

But honestly (and I live in Canada so going to the doctor does not cost me anything) you do not need to go to a doctor before you get pregnant, assuming that you do your yearly physicals (or every other year-ish). You know whether or not you are at risk of STDs and should be tested, you know whether you have high or low blood pressure, you know how much you weigh. You also have access to most of the information doctors do AND a reason to do the research and weigh your options and do what you believe is best.

All women should have the freedom to do what they believe to be best for themselves and their family. I read Crystal's comment and I want to cry. Doctors are not gods. Even if the doctor said to drop a few pounds first you can say "While I respect your opinion, this is what is right for me at this time" and any doctor who would dare to say "are you sure you are ready for this responsibility" to an ADULT should loose their license. We need to be empowered, and these articles are not empowering, except maybe to doctors.

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I can't believe what I am reading. I read the article and got out this of it: "plan for the biggest thing that will ever happen in your life. Babies are important, they deserve a good start." Everyone else seems to have gotten: "Everything is a woman's fault. It's not - it's the government's job to provide all of these things for us"

Why is eating a healthy diet so difficult? I've found that buying fast/junk food is far more expensive than buying healthy food at the grocery and preparing it myself. Not taking drugs and drinking, equally easy, if you're doing it for yourself. And it's just common sense to see your doctor. And as for those who can't afford it because they don't have insurance... isn't that the whole point of Planned Parenthood?

I don't think there's any excuse in the world for not taking care of yourself. All this talk of universal healthcare and blaming others for our own habits is the real cop-out.

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We never intended on becoming pregnant-we just did by accident. Not that I had a terrible diet, but I certainly wasn't eating as suggested, or taking vitamins.

But going to see my doctor? Yeah, that's REAL easy. Before I had children, I didn't HAVE a doctor, and only was able to get a family doctor and OB/GYN once I was pregnant. Canada is great for being free, but we currently have a doctor shortage in most areas. Even if I go to my current doctor, he's as helpful as my mother in law. But he's all there is, and he can give a needle when the kids need it.

Sure, babies are important-but to live your life assuming that you WILL have them? Sure it's important to do these things, but how many women can't afford to do all the items listed?

There is just something unnerving about the way the article is written-like women's one and only purpose it to prepare themselves for breeding. I think that's what most people are reacting to.

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Oh, yes. Had I seen a dr prior to conceiving my child with a heart defect, her defect could have been prevented? BS!

I was in the best shape of my life. Ate healthy. Never took drugs. We don't drink ... yet I was the lucky one in that my child's organs are all swapped internally - including her heart being on the right side of her body.

NOTHING I could have done could have prevented her defects - a wire got crossed and her heart twisted when it should have turned ... and viola - we have a "perfect" baby with some seriously messed up insides.

I hate when Dr's write crap like this. As if those of us who have "unhealthy" babies aren't already sensitive enough and haven't already gone through our entire life histories trying to determine WHY this happened.

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