From: nadja@jetsun.weitek.COM (Nadja Adolf)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada,can.politics,talk.abortion,talk.politics.animals
Subject: Re: Abortion, Caves, Galen (WAS Vegetarianism and abortion)
Date: 23 Dec 92 22:41:10 GMT
Organization: WEITEK Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <1992Dec18.055554.32254@watson.ibm.com> margoli@watson.IBM.com writes:
>In <TODD.92Dec18120557@ai07.elcom.nitech.ac.jp> todd@ai07.elcom.nitech.ac.jp (Todd Law) writes:
>>
>=======================================
>$Newsgroups: talk.abortion
>$Path: yktnews!admin!newsgate.watson.ibm.com!uunet!caen!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu
>$From: HADCRJAM@admin.uh.edu (MILLER, JIMMY A.)
>$Subject: Some effects of Pregnancy
>$  Well, as promised (but a little late, sorry) here's what I found on the
>$effects of pregnancy.  It is mostly physical.  The primary source is *Under-
>$standing Pregnancy and Childbirth* by Sheldon Cherry, M.D., copyright 1973,
>$revised editions 1983 and 1992.  My own comments will be enclosed in brackets,
>$[like so].  Pardon the occasional misspelling.  Let us begin:

Sheldon omitted a few things. Try a good medical textbook, like William's 
Obstetrics.

>$  Weight: prompted by hormonal secretions [like many of the changes] the meta-
>$     bolism of the body changes to increase efficiency in obtaining nutri-
>$     tion from food, with having to "eat for two".  This can result in a
>$     slight acqusition of body fat.  The average weight gain is 24.5 pounds,
>$     most of which is the fetus and supporting systems.  10 to 20 pounds
>$     will be lost within 10 days of delivery.  Proper diet and exercise will
>$     return the woman to normal weight within 2 months.  Weight gains above
>$     35 pounds are not good and can result in permenant obesity.  An in-
>$     crease of about 300-500 calories depending upon exercise and intention
>$     to nurse is reccomended.

Sorry. But a gross exaggeration. Permanent weight gain is a common reaction
to both the pill AND pregnancy - apparently as a result of increased denser
muscle tissue.

>$  Fluid:  There is a general increase of about 3 lbs of body fluid.  Most of
>$     this occurs near the end of gestation.  This will likely cause some
>$     swelling of the face and fingers (but NOT legs and ankles, which is
>$     caused by the pressure on the veins from the fetus, placenta, and
>$     amniotic fluid).

So. Pressure on the iliac vein is no more pleasant than the puffing about the
face and fingers. It may lead to permanent injury to the leg veins.

>$  Skeleton:  The increased presence of the uterus generally results in the
>$     the gums IS common, however). [It would seem that some posters still
>$     hold to this belief, that the fetus drains calcium from the the
>$     mother's bones.  This apparently is incorrect.  Sheldon does not men-
>$     tion any such concerns.  However, since the fetus does use calcium,
>$     it IS neccessary to increase its intake, so there is sufficient for
>$     both.  It seems that perhaps this belief developed out of insufficient
>$     calcium intakes in the past, with weaker bones/teeth as the result.
>$     This last is just my guess]

No. Wrong again. The bones are a storage depot for calcium and are in constant
state of flux. If the fetus needs the calcium, it will go into the fetus,
and not be returned to the osteocytes. Demineralization of bone mass is
not uncommon in the pregnant.

>$  Skin:  The nipple areas may darken, as well as warts, moles or scars.  A line
>$     may appear running from the navel to the pubic bone.  These areas fade
>$     after delivery.  Another condition chlorasma, may vary from small-
>$     yellow-brown spots to extensive dark-brown patches on the nose, cheeks,
>$     and neck.  These may be unsightly, but also fade within a few weeks of
>$     delivery.  Also, there may be red "spidery" patches on the face, neck,
>$     chest, and arms.  These also disappear after delivery.

Sorry, but they MAY fade, and even disappear. They DO NOT ALWAYS, or even
usually. A friend of mine has very visible chloasma ten years after the birth
of her last child. Vanity? Not when she has been denied jobs since it is
quite startling to people. Stretch marks may be enormous and remain that way.

>$
>$  Vagina and vulva:  The veins enlarge enormously, and the vulva takes on a deep
>$     port color.  Intercourse may be more difficult during this time because
>$     of the enlarged veins.  Vaginal disharge may increase.  The vagina en-
>$     larges and then shrinks back to its normal size following delivery.
>$     Commonly (in the US) a small slit is made on the opening of the vagina
>$     to facilitate the baby's exit and prevent tearing (an episiotomy).
>$     This requires stitches, but heals faster, better, and less painfully
>$     than a tear.  The muscle tone returns over an 8-week period.

Hmmph. In some cases the bladder falls into the vagina or prolapses. Permanent
urinary incontinence is not uncommon in mothers. A lot of women urinate when
they laugh.

>$  Abdomen:  Naturally, the abdomen stretches a great deal.  The navel may pop
>$     out.  A tight feeling may develop.  Regaining good muscle tone after
>$     delivery is sometimes a problem.[Sheldon mentions no complications,
>$     but I recall Muriel's complaint of difficulty breathing, I guess due
>$     to damage to the diaphragm--anyone care to expand on this?]

Gladly. Regaining muscle tone may be impossible, since sometimes the abdominal
muscle shreds. Sheldon here sounds like he is trying to write a non-scary book
for pregnant teenage girls.

>$  Breasts:  The breasts grow a certain extent, beome softer, and have larger
>$     veins which may be visible as bluish streaks.  The nipples are more
>$     erect and fluids may ooze out rather early.  They may tingle and
>$     throb, and even feel lumpy.  Proper support is very important to pre-
>$     vent sagging.  Some loss of tone is probable, but may be lessened or
>$     repaired via exercise.

Wrong. Any physiologist in the world can tell you that exercise does not
restore tone to ligaments.
 
>$[The following is a less detailed list of things to expect during the
>$ pregnancy]
>$
>$ Muscle cramps, dizzyness, gas, hemorrhoids, shortness of breath, backache,
>$constipation, excessive urination, swollen ankles and varicose veins, fatigue,
>$headaches, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, rhinitis (postnasal drip).  These
>$all vary as to degree, and pass afterwards.

Nephritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, vomiting to the point of upsetting
acid-base balance and increasing the risk of heart failure, cardiac arrythmia,
renal failure, eclampsia, seizures, stroke, permanent paralysis, hemorrhage,
death, and a whole bunch more.

>$  Physical activity gradually has to be curtailed.  Exactly how and when
>$varies.[there is a section on exercise and diet]

Depends. Sometimes it has to be rapidly and drastically curtailed.

>$  The rate of c-section is about 25%.  This is riskier but not especially so
>$[the doctor did not specify].  Having one does not preclude the possibility
>$of a normal birth later on.  Up to 80% of women had a c-section may now be
>$able to deliver normally, depending on several factors [I'm not going to
>$list them now, although I will if there is interest].

Or she may wind up with a hysterectomy and bilateral oopherectomy which is
loads of fun.
Or a punctured bladder, severed renal artery, severed uterine artery, punctured
intestine and all kinds of other C-section complications.

>$  Ectopic pregancies occur about 1% of the time.  The consequences can be
>$very serious, from loss of the affected tube to death.  Modern techniques
>$make it much easier to detect such pregnancies, and there are several ways to
>$treat them.  Having had one, the risk of having another increases to as much
>$as 10-15%.

The general methods of treatment are salpingectomy, oophorectomy, hysterectomy
or a combination of the above. Treating ectopic pregnancy ALWAYS involves
major abdominal surgery.
 
>$  Toxemia is less-well-understood condition of pregnancy, which appears to be
>$far more dangerous to the baby than the mother [so the doctor indicates].  Most
>$cases are mild, however.

Bzzt. Wrong answer. If it progresses, it will kill the woman. I promise you 
that. I've seen it.

>$Considerable rest is usually the prescription.  1.2 deaths per 100,000 live
>$births are caused by toxemia.

Of course, no one explains just how the pregnant woman is supposed to obtain
and afford this rest.

>$  Depression and anxiety are common during and after.  75% have the "baby
>$blues" which usually, go away within a few hours to two weeks.  Some may
>$develop the more dangerous depression.[the doctor did not state %'s]

And if the woman has preexisting, or develops an affective disorder, she may
never recover since treatment must be arrested during pregnancy to avoid 
killing or harming the fetus. It has been discovered that each break in
medication in depression or bipolar disease makes the disease less likely
to respond to treatment in the future. Possible outcome: permanent institu-
tionalization.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada,talk.politics.medicine,comp.os.os2.advocacy