Pregnancy uncensored

I was fortunate to only have a weird bout of migraines, a bizarrely dry elbow, and an echogenic cardio marker (which turned out to be negative) during my pregnancies.

I even consider myself lucky to have only experienced two miscarriages.

But like most pregnant women, I've never had any sort of explanation about any of those things. And while my mind is completely wrapped up in sassy preschoolers, crazy toddlers, and clingy babies, I still sometimes wonder why.

I suppose it's the eternal question of pregnant women everywhere because most everything we've experienced, save the specific diagnosable conditions, don't yet have an explanation. And while that might not affect me right now, it affects millions of preggos every day.

I'm not out to save the world, mind you, but if some of the minor oddities and more painful experiences that I had to endure could actually inform someone else, then I'm all for it.

And so when Jill asked me if I'd be interested in working with 23andme, I told her absolutely. Granted, the whole genotyping thing (which you'll read more about in the coming weeks) completely freaked me out, but I'm happy to be a bit of a guinea pig. Especially when one of the most difficult experiences (the Down Syndrome marker) could have been related to my Asian ancestry, which I only found out about from a blog reader (seriously!).

Okay, I didn't find out I was Asian from a reader (duh), but that the specific marker I have is seen in every 1 out of 3 Asian women. And my genotyping results, even though I'm half Asian with a very German English father, align me strongest with a Chinese person.

Go figure.

So now I know to make sure to check that "Asian, Pacific Islander" box at the doctor. Sounds like small consolation, perhaps, but it could have made a big difference in terms of the information I received from my midwife.

Of course, they could also change those stupid forms to better reflect multiethnic people.

But that aside, as one of the founding bloggers of this pregnancy community, I'll be sharing my pregnancy experiences as well as what I learned about myself through genotyping - like what quirky traits my kids have that I can 100% scientifically blame on my husband (okay, not completely, but still, sort of fun to bring up in an argument - heh). But really, I'm hoping to make a bit of a difference in how pregnant women are treated and how pregnant women treat themselves.

Comments

[Rebecca28]

Did you take a help of a sociology essay service for your superior outcome? I opine that you have got unique sample essay writing skills. Thanks a lot for that!

[Kelly]

I didn't know that you had two miscarriages - I'm sorry. But I want you to know it made me feel a lot better to read your story. I just had my second miscarriage this week, and it was an awful experience that put me in the hospital. Not only was it physically painful, but now my husband and I are forced to wonder, is there something wrong with us? Will we ever have a baby? We're not spring chickens anymore.

So hearing you had two miscarriages and then two gorgeous babies is the best thing I've heard all week. Thank you.

[Gina Umg]

Hahah pregnancy is such an experience.

Just wanted to share this video with you. This kid knows how to rock out and he's hilarious.

[Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com]

Hey, there was a front page article in the LA times recently about changing those forms to include multiethnic groups and include wider ranges of single ethnic groups.

Apparently, Muslims are considered "White, non-Hispanic" on most forms in California. WHO KNEW?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading more about this pregnancy uncensored stuff. I've had to fight tooth and nail to receive quality information about my prenatal care and I wish that it were easier.

[Karen (Submommy)]

RE: The forms with the ethnic checkboxes....

Check both boxes. My best bud from childhood (Chinese & Caucasian as well) gets incredibly annoyed with those boxes and checks both.

If we are truly a melting pot as we profess to be, forms that ask us to identify ourselves should reflect the melted pot.

[jaelithe]

Kristen, how do you write three blogs and raise three kids and run two independent businesses out of your home?

Seriously, I need to know: do you have a clone you're not telling us about?

(Congrats on the new blog. I love science. And genetics. Will bookmark.)

[Amanda]

I'm intrigued. Not that I'll be pregnant again, but as a person with a medical file as thick at 29 as someone who is probably well into their 60's or beyond. It would be interesting and scary all at the same time to see what was genetically passed on to my kids. I'm such a big science nerd.

[mothergoosemouse]

Knowledge is power, my friend. And add me to the echogenic marker club - Tacy had echogenic bowel, prompting my one and only amniocentesis.

But perhaps she was just constipated. Because I'm certain that's in my genotype somewhere.

[Christina]

I hope they reach out to more bloggers - I recently heard researchers found genetic markers that can determine your risks for skin cancer (melanoma).

Seeing how I've already had six suspicious moles removed, I really need to know just how serious my risk is, along with a few other family conditions.

[natasha the exile on Mom Street]

As a woman who could never carry to term (without explanation), I'm fascinated.

There are so many things about myself I'd like to know.

As a mother via adoption, I'm fascinated.

There are so many things about my son that I would love to know...

[Dana]

Yay! At ten weeks pregnant, I'm wondering about lots of weird symptoms that I don't remember having the first time around.

Can't wait to read this series!

[iidly]

You know when I had my son I too had an echogenic foci cardio marker which turned out to be nothing. Longest waiting week of my life.

[Bill]

If your kids have the quirky trait of liking to clean a lot, I think we'll all know where that came from. :)

[Norm]

Of course, they could also change those stupid forms to better reflect multiethnic people.

Hear, here! I think "check all that apply" would work, but I would be tickled to see a "Sino-scando-hibernian" box my kids could check ... !

[Gretta]

Sounds really interesting. Wish I had 400 extra dollars laying around so I could spit into a tube and find out about my ancestry! I'd love to know why my eyes are green when no one else in my family's is and how come I can't eat sweets or fruit. Anyhow - I just never know what to check for those race things. I usually just put "other". I'd like to put "human"...

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Karishma -- It's completely private and only you have the login info. You can choose to share certain information about yourself with other members, but otherwise, complete confidentiality.

[Karishma]

i absolutely love the idea of 23andme. it's awesome. what freaks me out, tho, is that fact that it IS genetic info and the ramifications of that info getting out to people you don't want it getting to. are you able to do this under a fake name blah blah blah etc.? i totally would, but if i have to put any kind of id-type info on it of any sort, i'm out.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

It is super cool, Amy! And... the things that I'm at higher risk for happen to be common with Asians. Surprise!

Anyway, lots more coolness to come.

[Emily]

What a brilliant idea - both in a physiology sense but also in an ancestry sense. I can't wait to read more!

[Amy Jo]

That is sooooo cool! I'm a big science geek, and I also had an echogenic cardio marker with my second pregnancy, so I'd love to see what comes out of this. Jill is in with such neat-o stuff!

[divrchk]

One of my friends works for that company. They are doing great things.