Brainwash

I've been doing some reading.

As a medical doctor, you are trained in the genetics and physical symptoms of pregnancy. However, there is very little education around day to day questions that arise during your period of confinement.

Popular culture is another matter; thousands of books line the shelves with titles that range from cloying to faux-scientific. What to Expect When You're Expecting is the most commonly recommended (25 cents at the Salvation Army store, 6 copies left). Suggestions include avoiding warm climates, herbal teas and "spicy or aggressively flavoured" foods.

I bought another book, recommended by my Kiwi friend; "Up the Duff" is the Aussie title, but it's more politely titled "Bun in the Oven" in the US.

It has a much more relaxed approach to pregnancy, including the suggestion that a glass or two of booze will not condemn you to hell. Still, this book recommends not exercising beyond gentle walking, and taking shit-tons of dandelion-leaf extract to "combat swelling".

So. Nonsense.

The pregnancy-capitalistic machine seems to revel in telling you what you're doing wrong, with little reference to common sense.

Yes, there is a risk of contracting food poisoning from eating raw fish. However, this risk is equally present in eating any take-out food, or any partially cooked meats/eggs/veggies/salads.

Yes, there is a risk in undertaking strenuous exercise (dehydration, muscle strain), but no more than usual. The laws of common sense still apply; if it hurts, stop. If you're thirsty, drink.

A pharmacist refused to sell me Gravol's "ginger" anti-emetic a few months ago, saying that it hadn't been proven to be safe in pregnancy. She then recommended I purchase ginger from the health food store across the street.

Scientific research on these things is scant; no one wants another thalidomide scandal. This doesn't help those of us who require medications to maintain mental & physical health during pregnancy. A study of 600,000 women in Scandinavia showed that the medication I take, Zofran (ondansetron), is "not associated with birth defects", which is comforting. However, the drug has only been on the market for about 10 years and so there is no long-term follow up on babies who are exposed in utero. Given that ondansetron works by blocking serotonin receptors in my brain, I have concerns that my fetus may grow up with deficiencies in brain development. Then again, that could just be all the sushi I'm eating.

I suppose what I'm trying to convey is the overwhelming impression from popular culture that I'm doing it wrong. No matter what I do, or take, or eat, I will be wrong. Any subsequent issues with Little Pickle will be my fault.

I try to keep the voice of common sense in my head. But there's a lot of brainwash out there, and it's getting louder the tighter my pants get.