AmazonMidwife

So, I've been pondering on this Palin birth buareadh. It's just chock full of issues for me, no matter which way I look at it. Here's the best, most charitable angle from which I can view it: that the baby was indeed Palin's daughter's child, and Palin acted from a (misguided from my perspective) fear that having an illegitimate child would indeed ruin her daughter's life and created the charade pregnancy to save her daughter. (Yes, I know that it would also save her OWN reputation, and there were several degrees of self-interest involved. However, as I said previously, this is the MOST charitable reading I can give this situation.)

How can this be the best of all possible perspectives? Well, as per the title, I have judgement issues regarding Palin's parenting choices. I've had them ever since I heard that she was boasting about going back to work three days after having the baby. I know that economic necessity faced by some moms who indeed MUST return to work prematurely postpartum; I've been at some of their births. And, indeed, most postpartum mothers who have older children return to work prematurely as well, but that gets into a whole 'nuther rant re women and unpaid work. However, when I'm thinking about Palin, it's hard for me to imagine that the state of Alaska medical benefits forced her to return to work that soon. And, considering that our supposed President regularly takes a couple weeks off to go vacation at his ranch, I can't imagine that there would be such pressing matters in Alaska that Gov. Palin couldn't have handled them by doing a little work from home via the phone or with administrative aides shuttling back and forth a bit.

Also, the mothers with whom I've worked have all had normal healthy babies after normal healthy labors. They had babies who breastfed easily and well. I know that babies with Down syndrome often have problems latching. How was she able to establish a good milk supply going back to work that early? (Yes, I'm making the assumption that she would bestfeed her child, since breastfeeding makes for higher IQs. If she isn't breastfeeding and doesn't have an abuse history or have had breast reduction surgery, then I have even more issues with her judgement and decision-making ability.)

And while I'm talking about questioning judgement/decision-making ability, let's talk about the fact that she chose to make a speech and then take the 8 hr. flight back to AK with her amniotic membranes ruptured and leaking fluid...at 8 months...with a baby with a known birth defect. Now, I'm not the alarmist that most OBs around here are about ruptured membranes and infection, mainly because my clients are at home where they've developed an immunity to the germs, they've been educated to avoid introducing anything into the birth canal and they've often chosen to supplement their diets with probiotics, garlic and Vitamin C. Most importantly, their babies are full-term. But I do think about Group B Strep, esp. when I see premature rupture of membranes. I also know that the Center for Disease Control recommends that the test for determining if a mom is colonized with GBS be performed from 35-37 weeks, which I believe is after the time the baby was born. When I hear that Palin took those risks with her unborn child, it makes me wonder whether she was trusting that God would save her baby, no matter what she did, or if she were really invested in seeing the child survive. Consciously or no, since her ethical beliefs don't allow her to choose abortion, maybe the daunting idea of parenting a person with Down syndrome for the rest of his life affected her decisions regarding his birth.

Yes, I went to that dark place. It makes me hope that the baby is indeed, Palin's grandson. Even though his mother would have scars from the charade as well as her upbringing, she, at least, has bonded with him from what I can see from these pictures.

UPDATE: My hope is dashed. Now the only positive fiber I can tease out is that Palin's baby may never fully understand that his birthstory showcases his mother's tragically poor judgement.