Check it out »# IS PREGNANCY A DISEASE

An open letter of apology to those woman's that have been victimize
that there pregnant is a disease.

It's true, For the most part, pregnancy isn't a disease. It's a
normal part of life, a period of around forty weeks that most
women will go through at least once. They've been living
through it since the dawn of the species, and will continue to
do so until its extinction. Apart from a fortunate wealthy few,
they've always had to continue with their usual activities
throughout their gestation: be that keeping house and
looking after other children in bygone years, or keeping at
their nine to five in more recent times. I'd always thought the
swollen ankles and sore backs were complaints to be
acknowledged and sympathised with, but weren't to be
considered an excuse for idleness until things were really
advanced.

I feel really bad about that now. Although pregnancy not a
disease, my third trimester body is far removed from its
healthy, non-pregnant counterpart. And it's not just swollen
ankles and a sore back that are getting me down. It's
heartburn so severe that if I lie down flat I reflux and wake
up coughing and spluttering. I had excruciating coccyx pain
that, for several weeks, left me unable to sit for more than
five minutes at a time, and incapable of bending over. I used
to run half marathons, and now find the three flights of stairs
to my ward a challenge. I've gained almost a quarter of my
body weight (I'm very short), and at the end of a ten hour
day on my feet I feel like I'm walking on knives. It's hard to
remain asleep for more than two to three hours at a stretch,
and impossible to lie on my back. I need to pee constantly
and continence is not quite perfect.

They're not permanent, and none of these symptoms are
unique to me. In this country, we don't consider them worthy
of sick leave. At most, we can hope our colleagues and
partners take some pity on us and take on a little bit of our
load so that we can have a short break.

To all those pregnant women I refused victimize I couldn't
have written you a note. A normal pregnancy is
uncomfortable, but is not a disease. I do, however, really do
wish I'd found a nice way to tell you that.

Drop your opinion to the comment box.