Pregnancyis a miserable experience.
At least thats what some pregnant people tell me.
Most of them are my patients.
Adam Hester / Getty Images
I, fortunately, have never had to suffer through being pregnant (thanks, Planned Parenthood!).
Nope, I do not want to give birth.
This pregnancy is my third…and here I am at 37 weeks and still throwing up.
You cry all the time…a lot of the time for no reason whatsoever.
Then theres this point that hits you when you stop having the ability to breathe, at least comfortably.
Walking from the living room to the bedroom leaves you winded.
I will say this: Delivery is the absolute best part because it cures you of all these ailments.
I love my kids more than anything.
They are the reason I go through the hell that is pregnancy.
Doesn’t sound beautiful and magical to me.
I also know that it’s really quite dangerous.
In fact, pregnancy is 14 times more dangerous than the next riskiest activity (hang gliding).
Butour legislators write and pass lawsintending to force people to undergo the risk of dying in pregnancy.
Would you be part of a society that did?
What changes when you’re talking about ending a pregnancy, instead of administering a blood transfusion?
Ill answer that for you: Life.
But, no, if you were thinking of the pregnant persons life, you would be mistaken.
Their life is not a concern in this scenario.
Why would it be?
The way we look at (and legislate around) pregnancy is profoundly backwards.
We completely fail to recognize the risks pregnant people take on.
Why arent we celebrating these brave and selfless folks on a weekly basis?
Instead, we shrug at them to make it express an unimpressed Thats just what you do sentiment.
Meanwhile, we shame those who donotwant to be pregnant.
Oh, youre pregnant and you donotwant to risk your life and health for give birth?
Why wouldnt you want to feel so weak that breathing hurts for days or weeks on end?
Seizures and strokes cant be that bad, whats the big deal?
We accept this approach to pregnancy as normal when it is anything but.
(But I’ll still be your doctor if you do.)
Your Gynecolumnist regularly donates toMedical Students for Choice.
Leah Torres, M.D., is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
