I must respectfully disagree that all problems can be fixed with food and supplements. The problem that caused my preeclampsia and HELLP has been DEFINITIVELY identified as a genetic variation of a clotting gene in my blood. My parents are both single carriers of this variation (MTHFR c677). I got both copies which means it can fully express the clotting problems associated with it. My homocysteine levels (which are affected by this variation) are way too high. Even while not pregnant, the ONLY thing that keeps my homocysteine levels at safe levels is one baby aspirin and 2mg of folic acid per day (5 TIMES THE AMOUNT RECOMMENDED FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN).

Additionally, my levels were so high during my pregnancy when the disorder was discovered, that any future pregnancy would require the addition of twice daily heparin to make sure I don’t have a stroke.

I appreciate your kindness. I do value proper nutrition. If you were to know more about me you would know I eat properly and exercise 5-6 times a week. You would be hard pressed to find many healthier 36 year old women.

But, to suggest that I can “fix” a genetically inherited problem is yet again blaming the mom for something out of her control.

A friend of mine was also told by several insensitive people that she didn’t give birth to her son because she had a C-section. That’s absurd and completely untrue. When a baby emerges from a womans body, regardless of the method, then birth has occurred. While I agree that our C-section rate is too high, there are certainly cases when it’s necessary. The WHO (World Health Organization) has set the acceptable rate at 5-15%, based on statistics from other developed countries.

Diseases are nobody’s “fault” but they definitely have causes. To say that diseases “just happen” suggests that we have no control, and thankfully, we do! The path to better health comes from changing our lifestyles. Our air, water and food sources are full of contaminants and chemicals. Our meats and dairy products are loaded with hormones and antibiotics. Our produce contains herbicides and pesticides. Processed and fast-foods are staples of many peoples diets, and they’re loaded with sodium, chemicals, and preservatives. Our cleaning and personal care products contain toxic chemicals. These are not theories, but grim facts. Does this impact our health? You betchya! If we want better health for ourselves and future generations, then we must make changes in how we live. Gone are the days when we could trust our government and the FDA to look after our best interests - we have to educate and inform ourselves as to what is safe. Check out the book “******.” Visit the ***** website to read about toxins, and the *************to look up toxin ratings in products you probably use www.***.com. What I found especially disturbing is the amount of toxins in popular baby products.

I now buy only organic foods, and most are from local organic farms. This promotes my health AND a healthier environment. I drink purified water. I make all of my own cleaning products (baking soda, vinegar, borax). I use **** personal care products, which are the only 100% natural and organic products available. I love them so much that I now sell them!

I also began using ***, and have had fantastic results. **** is not a supplement, but a food source. It is fresh raw fruits and veggies that have been dehydrated and encapsulated - it provides 14 servings of fresh raw produce daily - way more than most people consume. The pediatrician Dr. William Sears, promotes it. Extensive research studies have shown that **** use in pregnant women has greatly reduced the instances of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. I don’t sell ****, but I’ve read the research studies and have experienced the benefits for myself. Since I changed my lifestyle, I no longer suffer from depression, constant colds, migraines, eczema, and rashes.

People who experience illness and disease are not to blame for them. We can only do what we can with the info we have available, and we’ve been given a lot of inaccurate info. Thankfully, new info is available, and we have the power to make changes. Don’t take my word for it - please, do your research, make some changes, and see the benefits for yourself. We may not eliminate all disease, but even a significant reduction would be welcomed!

So I guess I have arrived at JoDee’s take home message. This may be a great screening tool for those who already have identified risks. The pregnancies that plague my mind the most are the ones like mine where NO risk factors were present.

But I did not have a pleasant pregnancy because, while pregnancy is not a disease, it is not your standard state and some women’s bodies are better able to handle the extra load on their various systems. And what the woman’s actions can only do so much.

I went to Lamaze and we were told about how natural childbirth was really “the” way and ceseareans were really unnecessary, dangerous, etc. That surgery treats it like a disease. Well….I couldn’t exactly keep him in there and that was the only way he was leaving.

And my severe edema? While my doctors told me how “fat” I was and how I was just eating too much salt, I was eating only 500ish mg/day. And barely was eating at all. And the other complaints (incessant vomiting, insomnia, a terrible itchy rash, sciatica)? Well they didn’t feel it was worth addressing other than to just “get over it”. Because this was a beautiful time and I should enjoy it–in keeping with the above philosophy.

Right. Because all of that is fun.