I got an interesting set of links from a friend today. I think I've just about got my eyeballs back in my head now. Did you know that
women are incubation vessels? That's right. We live for The Baby We Might Have, not for ourselves. Check out the specifics on the other side of the flip...
Let's start with a thesis:
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.
To which I say: Buh?
I am twenty-four. Theoretically, I am of childbearing age, despite the fact that I have no intention of having children. Therefore, I am to:
1. Take folic acid supplements (who's going to pay for those?)
2. Stop smoking (I don't smoke anyway, but you know, just in case I was plannning on starting)
3. Keep my weight at an ideal level (if only it was that easy!)
4. Promptly bring under control all chronic medical conditions (yahoo! they can tell that to my asthma!)
Not, you understand, because folic acid can can lower my high blood pressure. And not because not smoking significantly decreases my risk of cancer. Also not because keeping at a healthy weight makes me less likely to drop dead of a heart attack. And, of course, not because keeping medical conditions under control increases my quality of life.
No.
These are important for the babies. "What babies?" you might ask. Oh, silly reader! We're talking about the babies that you might have. Someday. Maybe.
Those imaginary babies are important members of society!
Oh, wait.
But, well, it's important to keep theoretical babies healthy, right? Just in case? This blogger doesn't think so [full disclosure: this lj belongs to a friend of a friend; I cannot verify first-hand her story]. She's epileptic. She's also being denied adequate medication because omgwtfbbq it might hurt the baby!
What baby?
Why, the one she's not pregnant with!
Are we seeing a pattern here?
You see, living what most people consider a normal life (pigging out every now and then, sneaking a smoke at a party, skipping your vitamins) is unhealthy for fetuses. And those poor, innocent fetuses must be protected from the evil, evil women who want to be allowed mess-up rights equal to those of men! I mean, how dare you think that your body is for you to use? Pshaw!
Wow, sorry...I think I just sent my own snark-o-meter off the scale. But seriously, check out these links. I'm not making this shit up, as much as I wish I was.
Women, perhaps now is a good time to panic. Or protest. Whatever floats your boat.