Cultural Norms vs. Paleo Lifestyle Part 1::Prenatal Care

I’m changing topics slightly – this post will be more closely related to the Paleo lifestyle, in general.  Because of my knowledge and understanding of the Paleo way-of-life, I often question cultural norms – why do these practices exist?  Why is “x” or “y” considered “normal?”

Throughout my pregnancy and now in early parenting, I continue to question these cultural norms.  During my pregnancy it was “why do women need drugs to have a baby?”  We are the only animal that “needs” this. We are the only animal that “needs” to be monitored monthly (and in my case weekly) by physicians to ensure our pregnancies are humming along smoothly.  

My husband and I had a honeymoon baby – so, we were surprised by the pregnancy, but pleasantly so!  I’ve always had a fear of not being able to conceive or miscarrying because of my thyroid disease and gluten-intolerance, which are both closely related to infertility.  So, getting pregnant before “trying” was very welcome by my husband and me. 

We got to our first Dr. appt, got the bloodwork done and we were in fact pregnant.  She had me come back a couple of days later to test my hCG and make sure it was rising appropriately.  It wasn’t – while this hormone should increase by 100% every 2 days, mine increased by about 30%.  My doctor basically told me that I should expect to miscarry.  (She didn’t use these words, but that’s what I heard.)  We had a follow-up ultrasound scheduled for the following week, which meant I spent a week crying because my biggest fears were becoming a reality.  Well, we got to the ultrasound and I was a mess emotionally – I expected to hear/see nothing when she put the sonogram to my belly.  But, that did not happen.  It was magical – I could hear my baby’s heartbeat loud and clear. 

But, I was a nervous wreck until week 14 (which was the “danger zone” in my mind.)   And then around week 20, I was at a bachelorette party, when an OBGYN who happened to attend the party had the nerve to say to me “You’re 20 weeks? Are you sure your baby’s alive in there?  You’re looking really small…” Thanks for that.

So, nervous wreck Aubrey came back in full-force.  “Is she growing in there?”

At 28 weeks, my Doctor told me that my baby had Intrauterine Growth Restriction – fears: validated.  I was starving my baby.  The Doc told me that her brain was developing normally, but the rest of her body was not.  This is a “good thing” because the baby’s body was working correctly and sending all of the nutrients to the most important part – the brain.  All I could hear was “OMG, I’m starving my baby.”  Was this due to my “paleo” diet?  Was I really starving my baby?  Did I need grains in order to conceive a child? 

I also became borderline hypertensive in my last 8 weeks of pregnancy.  Me and Lilah were put on strict watch.

We monitored that baby – I went in for 30 minute heartbeat tests twice/week for the remainder of my pregnancy, all the while, in the back of my head thinking “these tests cannot be good for my baby.”  Lilah would kick and kick while these tests were taking place.  I read somewhere that heart monitors sound to babies like a freight train is in the room with them.  But, I did it – heartbeat tests to make sure my baby was alive and my high blood pressure wasn’t restricting blood flow to the placenta.

Anyway, the point of this entire rant is that this all felt so unnatural to me.  Guess what…Lilah came out perfect.  She was not growth restricted; she came out a healthy 7lbs 11 oz the day after her due date.  Her head wasn't huge with a tiny little body like my Doctor had warned us we might see - she was perfectly proportionate.  My blood pressure was perfect during my labor.  I had a healthy, happy baby girl.  And after all of that worry, nervousness, and doubt over my ability to carry a child.

Why do we put ourselves through this?  Although I believe in the power of medicine and medical intervention in the event of an emergency, is it necessary to perform weekly/monthly tests on pregnant women?  I’m sure many would argue yes, but I’d lean more towards a no.  We need to eat healthy, be active, and trust that our bodies can produce a child, like our ancestors did, and like all other species of animal does without medical help.  Looking back, the stress/worry that I was put through during pregnancy could not have been good for me or Lilah.  

As an aside, my husband and I did do the Bradley Method for our childbirth education.  I’d recommend this to any Paleo mama and will dedicate my next post to this.

Thanks for hearing out my rant.  For those pregnant mamas out there – TRUST your body.  TRUST your diet.  THINK positive thoughts.  Your baby will be perfect.