Ladies Need to Know Their Role

Or at least someone at the Center for Disease Control thinks so. Via the Washington Post:

New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.

I guess the CDC forgot that we have made leaps in birth control since the 1950s.

Women should also make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date and avoid contact with lead-based paints and cat feces, Biermann said.

The report recommends that women stop smoking and discuss with their doctor the danger alcohol poses to a developing fetus.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for state of the art pre-natal care (and post-natal care) for all pregnant mothers. Laws should be written to require health insurance to cover it. But treating every woman, even those activly trying to NOT become pregnant, as a baby incubator is retrograde and sexist.

Women, if they chose to drink, should drink. If they chose to smoke, they should smoke. When they make the choice to become pregnant, they make that choice knowing that it may require lifestyle changes. Any health decisions made by a woman should be that woman's decision alone. If she intends to not become pregnant, she shouldn't be expected to adjust her lifestyle. Expecting women to be little drones, constantly activly preparing for their next pregnancy is insulting.

Pregnancy CDC Sexism