PW Design and Co

Long pregnancy has been considered a woman’s right of passage, and it has been majorly downplayed just how difficult that can be. After all, how hard can it be if a woman can do it? While it is often celebrated as a natural and joyous part of life, it’s essential to recognize that pregnancy also involves complex physiological processes and potential health risks that warrant it being considered a medical condition. Here are several compelling reasons why pregnancy should be viewed through this lens.

1. Physiological Changes and Monitoring

Pregnancy induces substantial changes in almost every organ system in a woman’s body. The cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endocrine systems, among others, undergo adaptations to support the growing fetus. These changes necessitate regular medical monitoring to ensure both maternal and fetal well-being. For instance, blood pressure and glucose levels are closely watched to prevent complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, which require medical intervention. Not to mention the anxiety that comes with growing a human and having no idea what is going to happen and also little to no control over what happens.

2. Potential Complications

Pregnancy can give rise to a myriad of complications that pose significant health risks to both the mother and the baby. Conditions like ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, and preterm labor can be life-threatening without proper medical care. Additionally, pregnancy can exacerbate pre-existing conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, necessitating specialized medical management. Recognizing pregnancy as a medical condition ensures that these risks are taken seriously and managed appropriately. Each woman is different, and that is why many would vote against it being considered a medical condition. Some women can go the whole pregnancy without even knowing they are pregnant and some suffer from the moment they find out until the day the baby is born. So how can we accommodate both of these women?

3. Mental Health Considerations

The emotional and psychological impact of pregnancy is profound. Hormonal fluctuations can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Conditions such as prenatal and postpartum depression require timely medical attention and intervention. Viewing pregnancy as a medical condition helps in acknowledging and addressing the mental health challenges that can arise during this period, promoting comprehensive care that includes psychological support. Again my first pregnancy was a struggle to comprehend that I had no idea what was going to happen, thus causing anxiety and being unable to have a normal pregnancy due to COVID-19 led to pre natal depression. The constant feeling of nausea, and vomiting lasted 5 months with my second, and that had a profound negative impact on my mental health. But I was still told that pregnancy was not a medical condition, therefore there was nothing they could do to help me. I was told it would go away eventually.

4. Labor and Delivery

The process of labor and delivery is inherently medical. It involves significant physical exertion and pain, often requiring medical interventions such as pain relief, induction, or cesarean sections. Emergency situations during labor, such as fetal distress or umbilical cord prolapse, demand immediate medical response. Ensuring that pregnancy is treated as a medical condition means that the necessary medical resources and expertise are readily available to handle these critical moments.

5. Postpartum Recovery

The postpartum period is a critical phase that involves recovery from childbirth and adaptation to new physical and emotional realities. Women may face issues such as postpartum hemorrhage, infections, and complications from cesarean sections or episiotomies. This is where I am so glad to live in Canada, if I had to return to work just 6-12 weeks after my c-section I would mentally have no survived. I think a lot of people are detached as to what the female body actually goes through to make a human being. It can be a rather traumatizing event, and imagine going to work on 4 hours of broken sleep for months at a time. In Canada I was lucky to have one year off of work. With the postpartum period being more difficult and exhausting than my day job, I was more than happy to return to the office. Additionally, breastfeeding support and pelvic floor rehabilitation are important aspects of postpartum care. Viewing pregnancy and the postpartum period as medical conditions ensures that women receive the comprehensive care needed to recover fully and adjust to motherhood.

6. Access to Medical Care and Support

When pregnancy is acknowledged as a medical condition, it underscores the importance of access to prenatal and postnatal care. Regular check-ups, screenings, and educational resources are vital for monitoring the health of both mother and baby. This perspective also supports policies that provide maternity leave, workplace accommodations, and health insurance coverage for pregnancy-related care, which are crucial for the well-being of families. Again the joy of living in Canada is the cost of health care for your pregnancy and for after the baby is born, you are taken care of. Where Canada lacks is affordable child care, most babysitters will run you $25/hour and a month of daycare for a 1 year old is $1200/month. The lack of support outside of your immediate family is something that could definitely see improvement.

Recognizing pregnancy as a medical condition is not about medicalizing a natural process but about acknowledging the significant physiological, psychological, and social changes it entails. This perspective ensures that women receive the comprehensive care and support they need during this critical time. The less care a mother has during her postpartum period increases the amount of time it takes her to truly recover. It was about 2 full years before I felt settled as a parent. That was with taking on every night shift in my son’s first year of life, and raising a new baby during a global pandemic, with little to no help from anyone. It promotes better health outcomes for both mothers and their babies, supporting families and communities as a whole. By treating pregnancy with the medical attention it deserves, we can create a healthier, more informed, and more supportive environment for all women. I feel as though we have a whole generation that is unfamiliar with what it actually takes to raise a family in 2024, the societal expectations and the struggles, and the stigma around “you knew what you were getting into” makes for a misunderstood generation of parents. More recognition for what modern women and families go through, would go a long way to making sure we get the help we so desperately need.

What do you think about pregnancy being considered a medical condition?