This is a diary, in which, I will explain how I see a fetus as a parasite. I'm also bored and felt like typing :)
There will probably be photos, GIFS, and links.
Warning: gross image.
Please, remember, this is an opinion piece.
This is Giardia lamblia. It is an intestinal parasite that is very common and is a pain in the ass to rid of.
I know, I know, it doesn't look like a precious little baby. I know. It looks scary, and gross, and looks like it will bite your head off. But we're not talking about looks. Who knows, maybe aliens think we're ugly as fuck but this parasite would be labeled Miss Universe in their culture? Who knows! Anyway, I am sorry for plastering this as the very first thing in my diary. Consider this just like those exploited photos of miscarried late term fetuses that Anti- Choicers parade around.
Anyways, back to the whole fetus= parasite thing. That is how I see them. I don't see them as cute and cuddly. I see them as terrifying and scary. I see pregnancy the same way.
Here are some examples on how pregnancy is a parasitic relationship:
The Z/E/F sucks the nutrients from the mother.
The "relationship" only benefits the fetus.
The mother's organs and body parts become damaged.
The fetus controls the mother.
The fetus doesn't give anything "back".
Some people would argue that this is a form of Mutualism, which is a relationship where both the host and the parasite benefit, but how does this benefit the mother? Where is that "benefit"?
Here are some commonly talked about downsides of pregnancy though:
Nausea.
Constipation.
Sore boobs.
Vomit all day long, not just in the morning.
You can't eat your favorite foods because you'll throw up.
Indigestion and heartburn.
Braxton Hicks.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Constant crying.
Fatigue.
You look and feel like a fat cow(trust me, I know this from experience).
You feel bloated.
You’re carrying around some extra weight.
Insomnia.
You have to piss like Seabiscuit every 20 minutes.
Now, onto some that are not mentioned much:
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Temporary and permanent injury to back
Severe scarring requiring later surgery (especially after additional pregnancies)
Dropped (prolapsed) uterus (especially after additional pregnancies, and other pelvic floor weaknesses -- 11% of women, including cystocele, rectocele, and enterocele)
Pre-eclampsia (edema and hypertension, the most common complication of pregnancy, associated with eclampsia, and affecting 7 - 10% of pregnancies)
Eclampsia (convulsions, coma during pregnancy or labor, high risk of death)
Gestational diabetes
Placenta previa
Anemia (which can be life-threatening)
Thrombocytopenic purpura
Severe cramping
Embolism (blood clots)
Medical disability requiring full bed rest (frequently ordered during part of many pregnancies varying from days to months for health of either mother or baby)
Diastasis recti, also torn abdominal muscles
Mitral valve stenosis (most common cardiac complication)
Serious infection and disease (e.g. increased risk of tuberculosis)
Hormonal imbalance
Ectopic pregnancy (risk of death)
Broken bones (ribcage, "tail bone")
Hemorrhage and numerous other complications of delivery
Refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease
Aggravation of pre-pregnancy diseases and conditions (e.g. epilepsy is present in .5% of pregnant women, and the pregnancy alters drug metabolism and treatment prospects all the while it increases the number and frequency of seizures)
Severe post-partum depression and psychosis
Research now indicates a possible link between ovarian cancer and female fertility treatments, including "egg harvesting" from infertile women and donors
research also now indicates correlations between lower breast cancer survival rates and proximity in time to onset of cancer of last pregnancy
Research also indicates a correlation between having six or more pregnancies and a risk of coronary and cardiovascular disease
The effects of pregnancy.
Aren't all those absolutely LOVELY!? But hey, the fetus does "benefit" the mother! By making her feel like she's dying! Yes! That's the spirit!
I have no issue with people wanting babies, but in my opinion, I can't do it again.
One more thing I would like to point out. The zygote actually overpowers the woman's immune system in the same way a parasite does. Isn't that interesting!?
Here are some scientific findings:
Further investigation revealed that placental NKB contained the molecule phosphocholine, which is used by the parasitic nematode worm to avoid attack by the immune system of the host in which it lives.
Placenta 'fools body's defences'.
During implantation, fetally derived cells (trophoblast) invade the maternal endometrium and remodel the endometrial spiral arteries into low-resistance vessels that are unable to constrict. This invasion has three consequences. First, the fetus gains direct access to its mother's arterial blood. Therefore, a mother cannot reduce the nutrient content of blood reaching the placenta without reducing the nutrient supply to her own tissues. Second, the volume of blood reaching the placenta becomes largely independent of control by the local maternal vasculature. Third, the placenta is able to release hormones and other substances directly into the maternal circulation. Placental hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL), are predicted to manipulate maternal physiology for fetal benefit.
Genetic conflicts in human pregnancy.
The host-parasite relationship during pregnancy is a fascinating interaction and research in this area will improve understanding of disease pathogenesis and the various consequences of the host immune response, being host-protective, parasite protective and contributing to disease pathology. Pregnancy poses an interesting problem for the immune system of the dam as she is essentially carrying a semi-allogeneic tissue graft (the foetus) without immunological rejection taking place.
The host-parasite relationship in pregnant cattle infected with Neospora caninum.
Another role for foetal transferrin receptors on trophoblasts could be to bind maternal transferrin at the materno-foetal interface, thus frustrating maternal immunosurveillance. This is similar to a mechahism used by schistosomes in the host-parasite relation where host proteins are bound by the parasite to escape immunological recognition.
Trophoblast transferrin and transferrin receptors in the host--parasite relationship of human pregnancy.
There you have it, folks. A fetus is a damn parasite and it invades the mother's body like one too.
I am the kind of woman who prefers science, studies, and medical facts over throwing pregnancy on the "magical miracle" band wagon. It is not magical, it's called genetics and biology. God has nothing to do with it either. And it is not a damn miracle! If it happens every damn day, how is that even close to a miracle!? A miracle would be a man conceiving and gestating a fetus full term.
One more thing, porking your fuck buddy/ girlfriend/ fiancee/ wife, and getting her knocked up doesn't constitute as a miracle. It may feel magical, but it really isn't. It's just biology!
