My mom owns the Better Homes and Garden Baby Book, published in 1943. I am always quite interested about . . . let’s call it Modern History. I am amazed how much our society has changed in sixty/fifty years. My favorite example is my copy of a reprinted Betty Crocker Cookbook, where in the back it suggests lying on the kitchen floor to take a quick nap with a cartoon illustration of a woman actually lying on the kitchen floor as though she passed out from the wrong cleaning fumes. It’s hilarious. So far I have only skimmed the first part of the book, and I would like to share one of my favorite passages.
Although one-half to two-thirds of all expectant mothers have experienced nausea, especially in the first months of pregnancy, doctors today feel that much of the morning sickness in early pregnancy stems from a psychological rather than physical cause. They believe that it results from the deep emotions that are aroused when a woman becomes aware that she is pregnant. Some doctors think, too, that the fact that many women expect to be nauseated and vomit when they’re pregnant may account for “morning sickness.” (pg 39)
Now you can understand why I am filled with deep emotions when I read this as I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. I can guarantee you that my morning sickness was not due to a psychological cause but that for some reason I couldn’t keep anything down for several months and that fetus Evan despised Baja-style tacos. Since my mother and my grandma never had morning sickness (which I do believe just shows that life is just unfair and this is not genetic), I did not expect to have morning sickness. But I had it in abundance, getting worse with Sean’s pregnancy.
Obviously the passage was written by a man and those “doctors” were men too. Before you think we’ve moved on, let me assure you my husband came home one day to tell me that he thought my morning sickness was all in my head. That my husband is alive today is a testament to my sainthood. Please let the Vatican know.
I find it crazy that one-half to two-thirds of pregnant women were blatantly ignored, brushed over, disregarded over their feelings, their vomiting. Heck, when they noticed that one-eighth (not a meager one-half) of men become prematurely bald, researchers were falling all over themselves to find out why, when, how, and a goddamn cure. So where’s my goddamn cure? (Sorry, I’m getting a little carried away. Just wait until I return to the throws of morning sickness.)
Today researchers believe that morning sickness is caused by the increased amount of hormones in the body. Research shows no good evidence that morning sickness is in the head. Many nurses will gleefully tell you that morning sickness is a sign that the baby is developing well. My doctor assured me it was a good sign without the glee probably because I would not except the glee from anyone with a pair of testicles without a good kick to them.
It’s just nice to have a laugh once in a while at what used to be.
However if you’re experiencing this discomfort, it would be hard for anyone to convince you that you’re imagining things. (pg 39)
No shit. It’s sort of like someone telling you that your broken arm is all in your head even though the arm is hanging crooked.
To be continued . . . With words of wisdom of loosing baby weight.
