Discussion
  • Read More
    ButIt'sNotFAAAAAIIIIIRStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:43pm

    As a 9+ month pregnant lady, this virus really freaks me out. Not necessarily for personal reasons (as it seems the virus has only—with one exception—been contracted abroad and I’m *this close* to the end of my pregnancy), but because I can see this shit getting outta hand, and *quick*. I worry for all my fellow mamas gestating along over the next year....spray safe, ladies!

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      emfish55ButIt'sNotFAAAAAIIIIIR
      6/16/16 3:50pm

      As someone who is right on the cusp of actively trying to get pregnant, I have no idea what to do about the Zika epidemic. I live in the part of the US likely to have Zika exposure this summer (and, bonus!, mosquitos love me). But like, do I wait? If so, how long? Do I get tested for Zika? Should I worry about travel to non Central/South American countries? I am spinning out a bit, obviously, and I know odds are that everything will be fine. But it’s just another cool thing to be stressed about, when fertility is already fucking stressful enough. My heart goes out to the people dealing with the reality of infection and pregnancy.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      JubiTheGreatButIt'sNotFAAAAAIIIIIR
      6/16/16 3:56pm

      Thank you. I’m 12 weeks pregnant and I’m so afraid of Zika. My husband plays a lot of golf and beyond making him cover himself in DEET before he goes to play, I feel pretty helpless.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Marzipan in your Pie PlateStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:56pm

    My zika prevention strategy is to buy a bat house. We’re totally going to put one up on the back yard this summer. Those little effers eat a ton of mosquitoes.

    Seriously though, I’m so glad I’m not trying to get pregnant. I don’t think my anxious mind could handle this. I found out partway through my pregnancy (they test you AFTER you get pregnant) that my rubella immunity had worn off. Rubella can cause some pretty nasty birth effects, and this was always at the back of my mind, even though it’s very rare.

    My heart goes out to those who are pregnant or trying right now.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      yvanehtniojMarzipan in your Pie Plate
      6/16/16 4:17pm

      I hope you’re not joking, because I’m putting mine up this weekend. (I opted for the single chamber because the triple seemed like overkill.)

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Marzipan in your Pie Plateyvanehtnioj
      6/16/16 4:19pm

      Nope not joking! My state is adjacent to the affected states. And we have a cow pond and sometimes other standing water, so I’ve been meaning to do this for years.

      Also, I think bats are kind of adorable.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    yvanehtniojStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:39pm

    Coupled with this article that I read earlier today, I think this news is going to start my weekend drinking a day early.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      JenisaurusRexyvanehtnioj
      6/16/16 3:45pm

      I’m with you. I’ve got a couple bottles of rose chilling in the fridge. Definitely gonna get into them with fury tonight.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      septembergrrlyvanehtnioj
      6/16/16 3:49pm

      Her kids have an extreme form of the condition, plus some compounding problems like epilepsy and cerebral palsy, and she’s opted out of a lot of medical interventions because they feel the girls are too fragile to take the risk. (I went on a binge and read her whole blog a couple months back when people first started talking about microcephaly. I need hobbies, okay?)

      Anyhow, the point is, not every kid born with microcephaly is going to end up like that. This article gives an idea what the spectrum is, from 100% disabled to relatively typical. There’s also a woman with the condition who works as a journalist.

      Which is not to say you shouldn’t drink, or that there won’t be a whole lot of kids with disabilities born as a result of Zika. But many/most of them won’t be as badly off as the Hartley girls.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    rogboyStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:51pm

    “Republicans had previously stated that funding could wait until next year, but Democrats have been increasing pressure on the GOP to act.”

    Perhaps I’m confused, but I thought the Republicans were all about protecting the unborn. Are they trying to get some concession on another issue by extorting the funding for Zika research, or is it simply that they don’t know their arse from their elbow?

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      yvanehtniojrogboy
      6/16/16 3:56pm

      Perhaps I’m confused, but I thought the Republicans were all about protecting the unborn.

      Yes, you’re confused. Republicans are all about punishing women for having sex, and dressing that up as “protecting the unborn.” What could be better punishment than a potential birth defect in the fetus they’re not allowed to abort? How dare you second-guess Jesus’ plan!

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Kfishrogboy
      6/16/16 4:22pm

      This epidemic is most likely to affect poor women, and if poor women have sex they are being irresponsible so they should be forced to have a disabled baby. Why should fat, old gray men have to deal with all this lady-business anyway? How is it their problem?

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    lethekkStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:48pm

    I can already hear the reasons people will have why funding isn’t necessary. “What, you think I’m responsible now just because some women won’t cover up or wear bug spray?”

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      spad13lethekk
      6/16/16 5:47pm

      “The harlot shouldn’t have had so much skin exposed”

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    ZabellaStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:48pm

    Here’s some not-awful Zika news - if the woman gets infected in the third trimester of pregnancy, Zika doesn’t seem to harm the fetus.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-in...

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      HRHDuchessNapsalotZabella
      6/16/16 4:30pm

      Well, it doesn’t seem to cause microcephaly. They still don’t know if latent effects will be seen as the baby ages.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    EmilyPosterchildStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 4:02pm

    The CDC has reports of 756 cases of infection, almost a third of which are infection of pregnant women. The average percentage of the population that is pregnant is 4%. This suggests to me that the actual Zika infection numbers in the non-pregnant population are exponentially higher 756.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Marzipan in your Pie PlateEmilyPosterchild
      6/16/16 4:09pm

      Yeah— must be higher testing rates for pregnant women (understandably).

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      EdithPrickleyEmilyPosterchild
      6/16/16 4:28pm

      I think part of that is due to the fact that symptoms of Zika infection are pretty mild and flu-like. Most people probably aren’t rushing to get tested if they think they’ve come down with a mild bug. Pregnant women are more likely to be on high alert and therefore test for it.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Ms.ChanandlerBongStassa Edwards
    6/16/16 3:54pm

    Is Twitter an effective way to get a message to your representatives? I don’t have an account but I’d really like to pester Congress about this funding!!!!!!

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      LuaStassa Edwards
      6/16/16 3:49pm

      Damn. This is freaking me out so much. My husband and I plan to start trying for baby number two at the end of summer and I worry about the spread of the virus. Makes me happy to live in a climate that is winter 6 months of the year.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        VIRTUAL BRITLua
        6/16/16 3:58pm

        Same! We are in Chicago and well today its cold. Hahaha. We will start trying in August!

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      dwayneonasummernightStassa Edwards
      6/16/16 3:47pm

      Doesnt see what all the fuss is about.

      Reply
      <