To those who believe in the Right to Choose: Are you in favour of drinking during pregnancy?

Question

If you advocate a woman's right to choice over her reproductive state, are you also in favour of allowing a woman to drink, smoke, do drugs, etc. while pregnant?

If drinking while pregnant is unacceptable because it might harm the baby, why is it all right to kill the fetus?

For those attacking my zealotry and lack of 'understanding' about what an embryo is, know that I am an atheist, a biologist and do indeed believe in the right to choose, but I have seen other 'pro-choice' advocates berate and demonize a mother for smoking or drinking during their pregnancy.

I was just wondering if any of them saw some of the hypocrisy in their own actions.

Answer 1

You know, this is a very interesting question. I find it curious that nowadays the medical community says that pregnant women should not imbibe alcoholic beverages at all . . . that even a small bit can harm. My mother drank throughout her pregnancy both with me and my sibling. We were never harmed.

In ancient Israel, wine was a normal part of meals. There is no reason to believe pregnant Hebrew women did not drink. There is no reason to believe there was ever any problem.

Moderation in everything is a good rule of thumb.

Of course, smoking is harmful period. So I do not condone that.

But I am with you 100%: why does this society insist that it is wholly unacceptable to drink alcohol while pregnant while simultaneously insisting that a mother has the right to destroy her fetus?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

I am also a pro choice atheist, but I think that if a woman decides to keep her baby, that she is taking on the responsibility for it's health and well being. So no, I don't think it's okay to smoke, drink, or do drugs while pregnant. The difference is with abortion, it's done early in a pregnancy, usually when the fetus is little more than a ball of cells. If a woman decides to keep a child, then that child will eventually be born, and have to deal with the ramifications of any drug use, drinking, etc that was done during pregnancy. I actually don't think that's in any way contradictory.

Answer 3

Well for me I would say the whole reason I am pro-choice is to prevent suffering.. if it will be in any way detrimental to the mothers physical or mental health, or if you cant care for a baby or raise it properly or give it the best possible life then it is best not to bring it into the world. So the way I look at someone drinking etc while pregnant is far worse than ending a fetuses life before it has truly begun, to prevent suffering... because in effect it only prolongs the suffering... have you seen a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome? its sad and it never ends they carry that with them their whole lives, and they can never escape the suffering brought upon them by their mothers. I see your point but I disagree... ending a life before it has begun to prevent lifelong suffering is not the same thing as purposely harming a life and causing it to suffer lifelong because of alcohol.

Abortion is not birth control, and I disagree when it is used as such but what about the girls who are carrying the child of a rapist? or the incestual offspring of a pedophile father? It is better by far to end such a life as that and prevent suffering... drinking and using drugs while pregnant is a whole different issue... people who do so are purposely and knowingly scarring their children for life, its an act of selfishness... even abortion can be selfish but when it is used as an act of mercy for the mother and the child then I see no wrong. Put it this way, if an alcoholic woman got pregnant, and refused to quit drinking even though she knew it would harm the baby for its entire life would it not be more merciful to end that life before it began? I think so. Is it really hypocritical to advocate abortion and stand against alcoholic mothers when one prevents lifelong suffering and the other causes it?

Answer 4

I think small amounts of alcohol dont do anything to the baby.

This is another great example of the usual north american "all or nothing" attitude. Its like theres no concept of moderation.

It either has to be "any alcohol at all will kill your children", or nothing. But thats not the truth. The truth is that a little bit now and again doesnt do anything to the kid.

Drugs now, it would depend on the "drug". I dont really like using "all-or-nothing" umbrella terms like that. Every drug is different. Marijuana for example, (again, in moderation) doesnt harm the baby in any way if the mother smokes while pregnant. Crack, on the other hand, does. As do obvious ones like crystal meth and cocaine cut with drano.

The effects of smoking however, on fetuses, is something I'm not familiar with, so I cant say anything about that.

So my point is, choice is choice. And in the end, its the mothers choice no matter what. If she wants to get an abortion, let her. Its none of anyone elses business. If she wants to drink, smoke, do "drugs", well all we can do is hope she knows what shes doing. Which is why we should be investing much more as a society into education for pregnant women, so they know what theyre doin and what theyre gettin into.

Answer 5

If a woman brings an unwanted baby into the world, the government will have to pay for the support of such child.

If a woman drinks irresponsibly or takes recreational drugs, or smokes during pregnancy, or even while not pregnant, she is putting herself (and her fetus) at health risks that eventually (after her resources run out) the government will have to pay to support her (and her fetus') health.

In both cases, I do not support the government supporting bad choices made by individuals.

Answer 6

the disadvantages are fairly overblown. Smoking replaced into elementary and till those days many females individuals smoked even as pregnant. It did not reason a rash of moron little ones... even if - first, smoking isn't healthful for you every time; really it doesn't help the newborn. 2d, statistical analyze teach that on conventional bibes with non-smoking moms tend to be healther, smarter, more advantageous powerful start weight, and so on. As for eating: certain, there are disadvantages to the newborn if the mummy is an alcoholic or acts like one. Getting falling down below the effect of alcohol oftentimes even as pregnant will effect in a mildly retarded (or stupider) infant with upload issues. a pitcher of wine with a meal each so oftentimes gained't reason extreme damage. the disadvantages are overblown. (i opt to funny tale that the French drink wine with each meal, and they don't all seem retarded, do they?). even if, the major difficulty is that no individual is regularly occurring with of what's a strong decrease. One drink an afternoon? a week? 2 at a time max? a million? once someone starts off putting forward "you are able to drink even as pregnant" some women individuals will take that as "there is not any reason to end your weekend bar-hopping and falling-down-below the effect of alcohol behaviour". more straightforward to assert "do not drink!"

Answer 7

Why is it any of YOUR business what anyone does, pregnant or not, to themselves?

Yes, we know that drinking and smoking during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. Those things aren't illegal, though. Neither is abortion.

If it's MY baby? And both the mother and I *want* to have the baby? We will do whatever is necessary to insure a healthy baby. That's my choice, and the mother's choice. If somebody else wants to drink themselves silly while pregnant, that's their business -- not mine.

As long as education has taught prospective parents what is bad for a fetus and what isn't, the rest is up to them. You can't control everyone's behavior, and I can't understand why you want to. Make your own choices, and let others make theirs. Just because YOU find something unacceptable doesn't mean we all have to abide by your rules.

Answer 8

Yep, I say women have a right to choose. If a pregnant woman wants a glass of wine, then she should have one. She shouldn't drink excessively, but a drink here and there is ok. Smoking - women that smoke a lot usually cut down or stop when pregnant, but it's their call, too. Alcohol and smoking are legal, drugs are not.

Answer 9

If a woman can not have the baby for whatever reason she has, it should be respected. You won't be there for her to give her money to pay for her rent, food, daycare , etc. So i support woman's decision to have or not to have a baby. Its nobody else's business but the woman herself.

When comes to drinking and doing drugs, I think the person should be responsible enough to know that that would harm the baby, but if she chooses to do so, her decision as well.

I know it sucks when comes to drinking and smoking but that is her body and only hers.

Answer 10

Touche' as this is a very valid two sided point. Another thing that is very disturbing, is if another person causes the death of the fetus through some type of accident or on purpose as in spousal abuse, the person is arrested and held accountable and charged with manslaughter or worse. I do not think you missed the point at all. Abortion should not be a means of birth control. During a late term abortion, the doctor does not totally deliver the fetus before killing it, because the technicality by the law is as long as the fetus is partially in the mother, it is abortion, and if the fetus is completely out of the mother it is then considered a baby. If he stabs the baby in the back of the head killing it while completely out of the mother, he is comitting murder. If you unbelievers do not believe this statement, read the law books on the subject of partial birth abortion.