The Ethics of Prenatal Injury

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Jessica Flanigan

I argue that it is permissible for pregnant women to expose their unborn children to risks and injury. I begin with the premise that abortion is permissible. If so, then just as a pregnant woman may permissibly prevent an unborn child from experiencing any future wellbeing, she also may permissibly provide her child relatively poorer prospects for wellbeing. Therefore, it is permissible for pregnant women to take risks and cause prenatal injury. This argument has revisionary implications for policies that prevent medical research and drug use during pregnancy. It also explains why moralistic criticism of pregnant women is unwarranted.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna C Delker ◽  
Amanda Van Scoyoc ◽  
Laura K. Noll

Punitive attitudes and consequences (e.g., incarceration) for prenatal illicit drug use persist in the United States despite evidence that these policies are ineffective and even harmful to women and children. For instance, the threat of these consequences can deter women from seeking healthcare, prenatal care, and drug treatment. Punitive responses may persist due to pejorative public perceptions of pregnant women who use illicit drugs. Although there is evidence that contextual information about prenatal drug use (e.g., drug type) can change such perceptions, other contextual influences are unknown. This experimental study tested whether receiving contextual information about a pregnant woman who uses drugs (specifically, her childhood trauma history) reduces punitive and increases supportive attitudes toward the woman. In a vignette-based 2(pregnancy status: pregnant/not pregnant) x 2(history of childhood trauma: interpersonal/non-interpersonal) between-subjects design, young adult university participants (N=461) were randomly assigned to read a vignette about a woman who uses methamphetamine. Punitive attitudes were significantly reduced by information that the pregnant woman had a history of childhood trauma, especially interpersonal (versus non-interpersonal) trauma (ηp2=.115). Supportive attitudes were not impacted (ηp2=.005). Information about the pregnant woman’s trauma history predicted less agreement with incarcerating her, only indirectly, through less punitive attitudes (R2=.21). Reductions in punitive attitudes were on the order of 1.5-2 points on 5-point self-report scales and controlled for participant gender and political conservatism. Results have practical implications for interdisciplinary work aimed at unlocking greater support for policies that help pregnant women make safe, informed decisions with dignity and access to healthcare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Maertens ◽  
Marjolein Orije ◽  
Elke Leuridan

Vaccines protect humans against microorganisms that cause disease. Usually, vaccines are given to infants, toddlers, or older children at regular intervals. For example, you probably know about the tetanus vaccine, which is given to you when you are hurt, or beforehand, to protect you from disease in case you get hurt. Maternal immunization means vaccination of a woman during pregnancy. This can protect the pregnant woman and her unborn child from disease, and can also protect the new-born baby. The protection is provided by antibodies, which are substances made in the mothers’ body after vaccination, and are transported through the placenta and the breastmilk to the baby. Some vaccines are advised to be taken during pregnancy and, in the future, some vaccines might even be specifically designed to be used during pregnancy. This article will explain how vaccination during pregnancy works.


2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Scott ◽  
Sarah H. Heil ◽  
Karol Kaltenbach ◽  
Amber Holbrook

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-63
Author(s):  
S. Sh. Kakvaeva ◽  
M. A. Magomedova ◽  
A. N. Dzhalilova

One of the most serious problems of modern medicine is sepsis. The number of patients undergoing this complication is 20–30 million (WHO) annually and has no tendency to decrease. Sepsis is characterized by severe multiple organ failure due to a violation of the response of the macroorganism to an infectious agent. Moreover, it is dangerous with high mortality. Sepsis often develops in patients with immunodeficiency conditions, which primarily include pregnant women. The article presents a clinical observation of a case of periostitis in a pregnant woman complicated by a septic state.


2020 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
V.М. Аntonyuk-Kysil ◽  
◽  
І.Y. Dziubanovskyi ◽  
V.М. Yenikeeva ◽  
S.І. Lichner ◽  
...  

The objective: to evaluate the results of planned open surgical interventions (POSI) in pregnant women with primary symptomatic chronic vein disease (PSCVD). Materials and methods. The study included 457 pregnant women operated on a routine basis with PSCVD. The patients underwent ultrasound duplex angioscanning (USDA) of the veins of the lower extremities, inguinal canals, and iliac veins. The severity of the clinical manifestations of PSCVD was evaluated on a VCSS scale. With the help of the circadian visual-analog scale, the dynamics after the operative pain were studied. The effect of POSI on uterine tone and cardiac function of the fetus was investigated using cardiotocography. When forming the results for POSI, data from USDA, the severity of clinical and cosmetic manifestations of PCVD, the need for active prevention of thrombophlebetic, thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, minimization of surgical childbirth were taken into account. The results of treatment were studied in 2 groups of patients. Patients of the first group were treated with conservative therapy, the second group – POSI. Parametric indicators, which were presented as mean and standard error M(SD), were used for statistical data processing of the study, and their reliability was estimated using Student’s t-test. The species was determined to be significant at p<0.05. Results. 495 POSI were performed at 28-38 weeks gestation in an obstetric hospital (perinatal center), by a vascular surgeon from the staff of the center, who was familiarized with the peculiarities of working with this contingent of patients. Surgery was performed under local anesthesia in 346 (75.49%) pregnant women at one extremity, in 111 (24.51%) – at two in one session. According to the results of the study, it was noted that in the first group 33.7% of patients had a positive clinical result due to the reduction of pain syndrome, while 67.5% of patients had an increase and spread of varicose transformation in the area of saphenous and/or non-saphenous veins with spread of pathological venous reflux in the distal direction. 78% of patients had the need to administer prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparins, both during pregnancy and in postpartum period. Out of 126 pregnant women with pronounced varicose veins of the external genital organs and perineum in 36 (28.6%) deliveries were performed by caesarean section. In 9 (3%) patients there was an acute thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the lower extremities, which required 5 pregnant women to undergo urgent surgery when the inflammatory process had spread to the middle and above along the femoral vein of the large subcutaneous vein. Pregnant women of the second group with PSCVD on the basis of obstetric hospital (perinatal center) POSI were performed in the organization, which laid the ideology of the FTS program, strictly individual indications for intervention in the optimal terms of pregnancy, multidisciplinary management of patients, due to this in 93% of operated patients regression of clinical manifestations of the disease was noted, whch contributed to the correct and safe delivery of pregnancy with 100% absence of preterm birth, abnormalities in fetal development, pregnancy course, negative impact on obstetric and somatic condition of the pregnant woman. No hemorrhagic, thrombophlebic, thromboembolic complications were noted. Patients in the postoperative period did not require medical support, as during the period of pregnancy, during delivery and in the postpartum period. There were no indications for surgical delivery. 2.4% of patients experienced complications of post-operative wounds in the form of cheese, which had no effect on pregnancy and was eliminated before delivery. In the postoperative period, if necessary, it was recommended to use elastic compression class garments 1–2. Conclusion. POSI made at PSCVD in optimal terms of pregnancy in a specialized obstetric hospital by a vascular surgeon in strictly individual indications is safe, both for the fetus and the pregnant woman. It is promising to further study the results of POSI in pregnant women with PSCVD to introduce it into the arsenal of treatment of this pathology. Key words: FTS ideology, planned open surgical interventions in pregnant women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-409
Author(s):  
Inna Sholicha Fitriani ◽  
Nurhidayati Nurhidayati

Pregnancy and abortion can be a stressor that can increase anxiety. The Qur'an is just as a doubt antidote and diseases that are in the chest and it is commonly known as the heart. The Lavender one of essential oil which popular and it is widely used in the field of clinical health which especially addressing psychosomatic in gynecology. The purpose of this research was to determine the potential decrease of anxiety on pregnant women in post-abortion by reading verses syifa and lavender aromatherapy. The research used experimental design of Pre and Post Test-Group with a sample of all pregnant women who had abortion. The total sample was 24 people. The research was conducted in Aisyiyah Hospital and Muhammadiyah Hospital of Ponorogo in Juny - August 2018. The data analysis used T and Wilcoxon test. The result of data analysis were 0,003 <0,05 and there was comparison between potential decrease of anxiety in pregnant women post abortion by reading verses syifa and giving aromatherapy  of lavender.  The comparison showed that the potency of decreasing of anxiety in pregnant woman post abortion by reading ayatus syifa and giving aromatherapy of lavender, 38% decreased anxiety level in pregnant woman post abortion because of lavender therapy and 62% was due to other factor. Then 89%decreased in anxiety level in pregnant woman post abortion because of reading ayatus syifa and 11% due to other factor. Research products can be used as media in the treatment of non pharmacological psikomatic in order to support quality of public health.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 2234-2236
Author(s):  
Dan Navolan ◽  
Florin Birsasteanu ◽  
Adrian Carabineanu ◽  
Octavian Cretu ◽  
Diana Liana Badiu ◽  
...  

Cigarette smoke contains over 7000 different substances some of them exerting harmful effects on embryo and pregnant woman. Nowadays 15 % of adult people and around 10-15% of pregnant women smoke. Previous studies showed that cigarette smoke compounds could exert pharmacodinamic effects and influence some of the second trimester biochemical markers concentration. Therefore there is a need to adjust the reference values of second trimester markers depending of the smoker status. The aim of our study was to analyse which of the markers are influenced by smoking and whether the software used to calculate the risk for aneuploidies is able to counterbalance this influence. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and free estriol (uE3) values were measured in second trimester sera of 1242 pregnant women: 1089 non-smokers and 153 smokers. Only hCG second trimester values were influenced by smoking whereas AFP and uE3 values were not. The correction of medians according to the smoking status was able to counterbalance this effect.


1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora S. Gustavsson ◽  
Ann E. MacEachron

Legal precedent for criminalizing the behavior of pregnant women has been established in an attempt to protect the fetus. Elevating fetal rights over maternal rights is based on questionable assumptions and inconclusive medical evidence. These criminalization policies are sexist and serve to victimize poor, pregnant women. This paper examines the evidence and policies and suggests an alternative policy approach to dealing with families with parental drug use issues.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 205630511668510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Tiidenberg ◽  
Nancy K. Baym

This article analyzes how pregnant women perform their pregnancies on Instagram. We ask whether they rely on and reproduce pre-existing discourses aimed at morally regulating pregnancy, or reject them and construct their own alternatives. Pregnancy today is highly visible, intensely surveilled, marketed as a consumer identity, and feverishly stalked in its celebrity manifestations. This propagates narrow visions of what a “normal” pregnancy or “normal” pregnant woman should be like. We argue that pregnant women on Instagram do pregnancy via three overlapping and complimentary discourses of “learn it,” “buy it,” and “work it.” Together these form the current authoritative knowledge of pregnancy we call “intensive pregnancy” as performed on Instagram. Concurrently, this article highlights how the combined discursive power of hashtags, images, and captions may influence and enforce discursive hegemonies.


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