Email I Wrote to my Senators when I was 6 Mos Pregnant and Pissed off (March 2003)
As I was reading the news of all of the anti-woman legislation being enacted in state legislatures across the country, and the backlash against it, I remembered this email that I sent to my Senators just after the so-called Partial Birth Abortion Ban was passed.
CC: Dr. Amy Porter, OB/Gyn
March 14, 2003
Dear Honorable George Allen and Honorable John Warner,
I am writing you concerning your Yea vote on S.3, Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.
As a woman in my sixth month of pregnancy, I was somewhat surprised to learn that you have more medical expertise than my OB, Dr. Amy Porter, concerning the best choice of action should something go terribly wrong with my pregnancy or labor. She is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), whose opposition to this bill was clearly not as informed medically as yours, as your vote for S.3. indicates - even without medical school! Bravo! You should not hide your light under a bushel, as the saying goes.
I would like to call on your obstetrical expertise in an upcoming procedure that Dr. Porter will perform in May.
Due to my cervical incompetence after conizations (I won't presume to explain the indications to you, as you're clearly versed on this), Dr. Porter placed a stitch in my cervix (which, as you obviously know, is called a cerclage) in February. As you're aware, she will need to remove the cerclage late enough to keep my son safely tucked up in there until after his respiratory system is functioning, but prior to labor starting, which as you are aware could occur starting in my 36th week, which puts us at May 15.
Since there is a possibility that labor could start immediately upon the clipping of the stitch, depending on the granularity of the scar tissue in the area of the cerclage, and the precociousness of my boy, I would like you both to to supervise Dr. Porter while she does this. Should there be an issue with an earlier than expected vaginal delivery, I would be grateful for your counsel on the contraindications or best options for me and my son-to-be. I can't leave something this important up to my OB, as S.3 indicates.
Please pencil in Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 am at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. We will be in a Labor/Delivery/Recovery suite in the Women and Infant Health wing. I believe that there is an Amtrak Express train leaving from Richmond early enough - or just take a cab from Union Station to the hospital.
I would be honored if you would lend your medical expertise to Dr. Porter, and demonstrate your self-professed understanding of what is best for my gynecological health and well being. I would have invited my Congressman, Jim Moran, but he's siding with ACOG against the House bill, so he clearly doesn't think that he has any business in that labor and delivery room with my husband and OB, let alone looking up that speculum at my cervix with Dr. Porter. I've copied her on this email, so she can share in the news of this heretofore unknown rescource for gynecological surgery information! My husband wants to cut the cord, but only if that works for you.
I'm still up in the air about whether to go with an epidural or to just push him out unmedicated, so if you could send me your recommendations on that in advance, I'd appreciate it.
I look forward to meeting you both on May 15th!
Your Constituent,
[Me] (and her unborn teenager)
= new reply since forum marked as read
