re: No Prenatal Care

Quoting Supafly★:" And the glucose test? Pretty important if you want to rule out GD which can be very dangerous to mother ... [snip!] ... not detected. Ultrasounds and blood tests can warn about potential problems that can be fixed right at birth, like Jas said. "

Yeah I knew I didn't have GD. Lol. There was absolutely no way I had it. And even if I did, I ate healthy anyway.

Quoting Michael Westen:" Yeah I knew I didn't have GD. Lol. There was absolutely no way I had it. And even if I did, I ate healthy anyway."

I knew I wouldn't get it either because my blood sugar is really low. But if a woman doesn't know her own body or genetic background, it could be disastrous for herself and her baby. Most women don't. And anything could go wrong at any time.

Quoting Supafly★:" I knew I wouldn't get it either because my blood sugar is really low. But if a woman doesn't know her ... [snip!] ... background, it could be disastrous for herself and her baby. Most women don't. And anything could go wrong at any time. "

I'm kind of a different case. I know my body very well. Also usually GD babies are huge. I didn't show at all till I was 32 weeks. Lol. Nobody knew I was pregnant.

For the common woman, yes, I think they should seek prenatal care. For an informed woman, I don't think there is anything wrong with self care.

Quoting Michael Westen:" I'm kind of a different case. I know my body very well. Also usually GD babies are huge. I didn't ... [snip!] ... yes, I think they should seek prenatal care. For an informed woman, I don't think there is anything wrong with self care."

Sometimes size doesn't have anything to do with how you show, though. In the end it's the woman's choice but I think it's risky to go an entire pregnancy without getting checked by a professional.
I probably could've went my whole second pregnancy without one check up but I went because my first labor was preterm. But like I said before I didn't make it to every single appointment because of work. I also understand when a woman has issues with health insurance and money, she may need to skip what isn't necessary.

Quoting Jas ♥:" Ehh, that's subjective. I believe that they are necessary. So are lab tests."

US's not being necessary ISN'T subjective. Did you read y links that actually quantifiably show they do not improve birth outcomes in low risk women? That isn't really something that is subjective. If they give *you* warm fuzzies & you feel less worried, so be it. There is no basis for having such faith in them as a diagnostic tool.

Guess what? I didn't get prenatal care at all in any form until 20 weeks because that's when I found out I was pregnant. I went to a total of 6 appointments and had the glucose test and an ultrasound. If there is ever a next time, I won't go. What is an ultrasound going to do? Show me something that is wrong that I would never terminate for anyways? I am severely hypoglycemic. So, a glucose test does me no good. My doc made me drink a ton of kool aid before I went so I wouldn't alarm the people on my 3 hour test!

Quoting khigh:" Guess what? I didn't get prenatal care at all in any form until 20 weeks because that's when I found ... [snip!] ... test does me no good. My doc made me drink a ton of kool aid before I went so I wouldn't alarm the people on my 3 hour test!"

My midwife looked at the results of my glucose test and went  . I told her I'm hypoglycemic But I guess she like, didn't believe me lol.

Quoting Supafly★:" My midwife looked at the results of my glucose test and went  . I told her I'm hypoglycemic But I guess she like, didn't believe me lol. "

Mine is always in the low 60s and if I don't have something with sugar in it at breakfast time, I faint halfway through the morning!

Quoting khigh:" Mine is always in the low 60s and if I don't have something with sugar in it at breakfast time, I faint halfway through the morning! "

I have no idea what my number is. But I have to eat as soon as I wake up or I get dizzy and sick. Which sucks because that's not always possible with 2 small clingers lol.

I really don't see why people care about how many ultrasounds etc other people have. I had 4 ultrasounds because my mum did them after hours for free for me and we both just wanted a look (then again I'm one of these evil people that would abort if my feotus was developing without a head, heart, or lungs). I had the GD test because both me and my mum are the only members in my family without type 1 diabetes. I had multiple tests later on because at 40+2 I developed pre-E and in Australia you can't be induced until you're 10 days overdue. And yes I attended all my appointments at my antenatal clinic because these also including classes and meetings with midwives, psychologists, and lactation consultants.
And you know what none of these things actually caused any harm to come to my son.

Quoting Nymphadora:" I've been on a hiatus and have slowly been re-entering baby-gaga life, so here is my first D&D. ... [snip!] ... the mother had sought prenatal care, the pregnancy would have ended in an abortion due to abnormalities in the fetus? D&D"

Honestly, prenatal care is overrated. Doesn't prevent much. Just warns you IF something is wrong. Most of what the doctors did I could have done at home. I missed a lot of appts for work and at the end of the day, it didn't make a difference.

Quoting The (super kinky) Master:" I really don't see why people care about how many ultrasounds etc other people have. I had 4 ultrasounds ... [snip!] ... psychologists, and lactation consultants. And you know what none of these things actually caused any harm to come to my son."

So what? I went to all mine too. That isn't the point. You may say they didn't harm your son...but how did they help?

I have a pet peeve when people who have small children say "my kids are fine" as if what your child is like NOW for health is some determination of what will happen in the next 75 yrs. My kids are "fine" too - so what? Does that mean that they couldn't some day end up with issues due to the Zofran I chose to take for extensive morning sickness? Of course not. If your mom is in the medical field you should be well aware we have MOST often in history done things for a VERY long time BEFORE we decided they caused harm. We no longer give women injections to stop milk from coming in when they do not plan to breastfeed because we figured out that the injection had significant side effects like an increased risk of stroke. It was done for a VERY long time before that determination was made though & lots of women would happily tell you they took the shot & they are "fine". Good for them. It doesn't mean it wads harmless.

You say you don't know why others care... Is that not ironic to you? You are the one who asserted women *should* get prenatal care, not me. Isn't it you who actually cares? I am asserting in otherwise healthy women it likely makes little to no difference,

<blockquote><b>Quoting justanothamotha:</b>" So what? I went to all mine too. That isn't the point. You may say they didn't harm your son...but how ... [snip!] ... not me. Isn't it you who actually cares? I am asserting in otherwise healthy women it likely makes little to no difference,"</blockquote>




They helped because during those appointments I saw psychologists who gave me techniques to help my anxiety disorders during pregnancy and who to identify and seek help for PPD. I got classes on non medicated birthong techniques and new born care. I got help preparing and understanding the importance of breastfeeding. In my eyes this helped a great deal

Quoting The (super kinky) Master:" <blockquote><b>Quoting justanothamotha:</b>" So what? I went to all mine too. That ... [snip!] ... and new born care. I got help preparing and understanding the importance of breastfeeding. In my eyes this helped a great deal"

I am glad that helped you. Those aren't about actual maternal/fetal mortality or morbidity AND you could do allll of those things without ever seeing an Ob or midwife for an actual prenatal exam. I am not suggesting someone "should" go without prenatal care. I have a very broad view on that & think that as long as you make an informed conscious choice - then get down with your bad self. I am simply saying that the things you listed that helped you have little to nothing to do with delivering a healthy baby & ensuring that you & baby survive the postnatal period. I am sure it made the experience better & it probably helped with nursing, but where I am from, none of those things are part of typical prenatal care anyway, which is what is being debated here. Those things are options for sure, but not covered under the general idea of fundal height measurements, fetal heart rate checks, weight checks, urine samples & the like.

I had a unplanned pregnancy,With my son i had very little prenantal care by little i mean i only got seen 3 times. The first time i got seen i was 25 weeks along,but i took care of myself it was due to insurance problems. My son came out perfectly fine and i carried him to 41 weeks. However when i get pregnant again i will go to all of the check ups.