In Florida, A Pregnant Woman is Nothing But A Womb Pod

I encourage people to follow this case in Florida, where a woman was court-ordered to be held against her will on hospital bedrest. She was 25 weeks pregnant and having some issues in her pregnancy, so it was recommended she remain on bedrest. However, with a job and two other young children at home, she did not feel that would be possible. So the hospital sought a court order to keep her hospitalized, claiming it was in the "best interests of the fetus." Never mind what might be in the best interests of her other two children! The court order required her to submit to any and all treatments during her stay. Three days later, she had no choice but to undergo a c-section, and during the surgery it was determined that the fetus had already died. (Which, as an aside, could have easily been determined by an ultrasound rather than major abdominal surgery.)

In the past, courts have always upheld patient autonomy in making medical decisions, even for pregnant women, even when it might endanger a fetus. The Florida courts, however, have summarily stripped this woman of her constitutional rights. Fortunately, a lawyer has agreed to appeal her case pro bono, and the ACLU has (rightfully) stepped in as well.

Let this case be a warning to women everywhere: The Pregnancy Police are watching. You think it's bad that people give you the stinkeye in Starbucks when you don't order a decaf latte? Just wait til they imprison you in the hospital until delivery for it.

Exercise and Breastfeeding

A new study from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro concludes that breastfeeding mothers who exercise lose less bone density and less lean body mass than non-exercising women. Although the study is small and the topic warrants further exploration, the results are promising. Bone loss is normal during pregnancy and lactation, as the baby depletes some of the mother's calcium stores for skeletal development. Bone density generally rebounds, at least partially, after a woman ceases breastfeeding. But concern over osteoporosis could lead some women to decide (or be convinced) to wean prematurely.

The UNC study demonstrates that moderate exercise, in addition to its many other benefits, can mitigate the effects of breastfeeding on a mother's bone density. It is important to note that the women in the study did not have a gym membership or attend group exercise classes- they performed a combination aerobic/strength-training routine 3 times a week in their own homes. In other words, the benefits of exercise are not out of reach to women unable to join a health club. For women who worry that exercise will affect their milk supply, there is no research that supports this myth. Furthermore, the additional caloric expenditure associated with both exercise and lactation (along with healthy eating habits) may help mothers shed their pregnancy pounds more easily.

"Dodecamom" Doesn't Have Quite The Same Ring To It

Tunisian Woman Poised to Give Birth to 12 Babies: Reports
(Also reported here.)

I guess we'll learn in the coming days if this is a true story or a hoax. Stories of "extreme fertility" really get under my skin. I understand wanting to have children. And I can certainly sympathize with those who are unable to get pregnant or stay pregnant. I know from friends who have suffered fertility problems and miscarriage that it is frustrating, heartbreaking, and overwhelming. But the higher the order of multiples, the higher the risk to both mother and babies. Why take chances with your own life, or the lives of the children you so desperately desire? And where are the medical ethics?

It is a known fact that multiple gestations are at greater risk for premature birth and the potential accompanying health problems. Does bleeding in the brain sound like a great start to life? Even with the availability of selective reduction, there are plenty of folks who object to such practice, and others who would reject it based on the fact that it potentially puts all the fetuses at risk. But let's go back even further, to the fertility doctors who create these high order multiples, because 12 spontaneously conceived babies would be so rare as to be impossible.

Several European countries already limit the number of embryos transferred during IVF. While I believe that the majority of fertility specialists practice ethically, perhaps it is time for the law to step in and keep everyone on the same page. Any thoughts?