An avid rock climber in her 9th month of pregnancy has been featured on television harnessed, roped and tackling dangerous heights. Nothing's going to keep her down! What a badass. How hardcore. Also, as I seem to be alone in thinking, how careless.
Jezebel featured the story today to a chorus of cheers because I guess any choice a pregnant woman makes is always okay, even if that choice involves endangering a full-term baby? If you have to wear a harness (one that is not designed for the safety of a pregnant belly, by the way) and have someone spot you, then it is not a safe activity. During pregnancy ligaments are looser and a woman's center of balance is off. Why risk rock climbing? Just go for a jog in the park if you want to stay fit.*
I do not understand why people are cheering this woman. What if she were a heavily pregnant race car driver taking curves at warp speeds? What if it were an astronaut shipping off in 5G for a badass jaunt around the planet? We're not supposed to judge any parenting decision for any reason - not even dangerous behavior?
Maybe TLC ought to feature a show called Whiskey Mom because since a little wine is okay when you're pregnant, maybe a little whiskey is too. Or a lot of whiskey. It's just a choice! What about Crack Mom? There's a show! It's never been proven at exactly what threshold crack cocaine crosses the placenta, so it's totally fine and wonderful for a woman to make that choice if she sees fit. Choices! All choices!
No, you don't have to rest peacefully on a bed of feathers just because you're pregnant but there are other people to consider once you are. Is swinging from a rope off a cliff the best use of your time when you could be buying a two-seater car, planning a safari and enjoying mind-altering substances taking it easy and learning to breathe?
I'm all for making your own choices, but I'm also for having a brain and not applauding dumb ones.
*Don't look at me. I spend my pregnancies lifting melted cheese tortillas to my mouth. What? Those are totally bicep curls!
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I wouldnt feel safe rock climbing while prego (I can't even do a pull up now), but I don't think rock climbing and doing crack are equivalent for pregnant women. Tend to support the "mother's choice" thinking more because I got a lot of people telling me that riding my bike during pregnancy was reckless. But it kept me sane I tell you.
Nah, crack rocks and climbing rocks aren't the same level of dangerous. I just got carried away. There's this whole thing like "don't judge anyone" and for the vast most part, I agree. I hate when people criticize each other on stuff like vaccinations and whatnot.
I just thought the video of her rock climbing seemed very dangerous and worthy of a side-eye!
I'm just wondering what her health insurance company would have to say about it!