The way we look at (and legislate around) pregnancy is profoundly backwards. We completely fail to recognize the risks pregnant people take on. Why aren’t we celebrating these brave and selfless folks on a weekly basis? Instead, we shrug at them in order to express an unimpressed “That’s just what you do” sentiment. Pregnant people suffer for months and risk disease and death in order to give birth to an actual human being and all society can do is say, yup, sounds about right *yawn*. That we do not uphold these individuals (some of you may refer to them as “mom”) with the utmost reverence is shameful.

Meanwhile, we shame those who do not want to be pregnant. “Oh, you’re pregnant and you do not want to risk your life and health in order to give birth? Why wouldn’t you want to feel so weak that breathing hurts for days or weeks on end? Why wouldn’t you want to be at significant risk of a blood clot going to your lungs that might kill you and your baby? Seizures and strokes can’t be that bad, what’s the big deal?”

We accept this approach to pregnancy as “normal” when it is anything but. Not wanting to be pregnant is as normal as not wanting diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, seizures, etc. Yet we feel justified judging women for it and imposing laws that effectively force them to face these potentially fatal health consequences. Well, personally, I understand what it takes to carry and birth a child, and I understand not wanting to take that on. And the more deeply I understand these things, the more assured I am that I want none of it. (But I'll still be your doctor if you do.)

Your Gynecolumnist regularly donates to Medical Students for Choice.

Leah Torres, M.D., is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Twitter: @LeahNTorres

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