The challenges of disability and pregnancy

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Comments

[pinkminx]

Thanks, that was an interesting read.

I was going to comment on how I've come to expect very little from the Guardian's family section and was positively surprised... until I noticed this was under news/society/disability. Figures.

[sixseventytwo]

This was an interesting read, but I'm wondering how scoliosis is considered a disability? As far as I know, as someone with pretty bad scoliosis (I had to wear a brace or get back surgery, obviously I chose the awful brace), I didn't think I was eligible for any sort of disability benefits? But perhaps it's different in the UK, shrug. Also, scoliosis can actually complicate childbirth, according to my doctor, at least. But maybe he was just scaring me into using the brace :P

Anyway, I think it's great that some sort of support exists for disabled parents in what is already a pretty scary and exciting time.

[kaowolfie]

I guess it may be a case of different people are different. One may not qualify for full-fledged disability benefits, but still be able to access other services. Plus, disabilities are not defined by what qualifies one for benefits - I'm disabled by chronic facial pain due to nerve damage, and by migraines, but I'm still able to work a full time job. (Which is a fucking miracle, by the way. We never thought I'd be able to work at all.) I'm still disabled, in that my conditions have a major impact on my life.

[kaowolfie]

I wish this were not so focused on physical disabilities alone, since mental illness can really make parenting tough (especially parenting without unnecessary interference from the state), but I have to support a major newspaper presenting disabled parenting in a favorable light.

I wish it didn't start off with the story of a man, though - disabled women find it far more difficult to get social permission to parent, since the assumption is that we will be the primary caretaker. We face being forced off life-enabling medications without any consideration for medical necessity, being subjected to overly medicalized births in which our consent matters for shit... it's some ugly stuff.

[azetburcaptain]

Yeah, one step at a time. I wish there was more help for disabled parents though.

[kaowolfie]

You and me both. The only reason my husband and I think we can have kids is we'll be living either near my parents or his parents. If it were just us two, between our differing disabilities, it would be incredibly difficult.