Forever Pre-Pregnant

According an article by January W. Payne in the Washington Post yesterday,

"New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control... Women should also make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date and avoid contact with lead-based paints and cat feces..."

Thanks for the tips!

Say, here's an idea: why don't you recommend all of these obviously health-promoting guidelines to women without attaching the guilt/fear factor of infant mortality? Maybe I'm just one of these women...

"Experts acknowledge that women with no plans to get pregnant in the near future may resist preconception care.

'We know that women -- unless you're actively planning [a pregnancy], . . . she doesn't want to talk about it," Biermann said. So clinicians must find a "way to do this and not scare women," by promoting preconception care as part of standard women's health care, she said."

There is something very The Handmaid's Tale about this. Not to mention the near-complete disregard for women who have decided to be childfree.


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