The Baby Challenge: A Handbook on Pregnancy for Women with a Physical Disability

[lightreads]

The Baby Challenge: A Handbook on Pregnancy for Women With a Physical Disability by Mukti Jain Campion

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Points for existing, I guess? This is, as far as I can tell, the first book of its kind, and I haven't yet found another that purports to talk candidly and positively about pregnancy and delivery from a general disability perspective, and then specifically for a whole stack of physical disabilities (I read the blindness and epilepsy chapters).

Unfortunately, all the information on medical practices and services is specific to the NHS in the late 80's. And the particular disability chapters supply the sort of rudimentary information I fervently hope any woman with a disability already knows about her diagnosis and her body.

And, I just, look, I realize there are lots of people out there who consciously or unconsciously believe it is harmful for a child to have a disabled parent. Not, like, genetically, but like having a disabled person as a role model and a teacher and a guardian is psychologically harmful.* But do we have to indulge these assholes? Can't we just carry on under the assumption that they're full of crap and hope they'll catch up, instead of actually engaging with this shit and giving them these anecdotes about how "no really, we're a perfectly healthy family, my children loved me anyway?"" Sometimes ablism is so fucking stupid, it should not be given the dignity of acknowledgement, you know?



View all my reviews

Comments

[the_rck]

It's a pity this book isn't better. I haven't read it, but I was searching for something like it when I was pregnant. I'd have been disappointed to find something that looked promising but wasn't worth my time.

I remember when my husband and I were first talking about having a child-- My step-father who is a social worker specializing in children under the age of five was vehemently opposed. He told me that disabled parents are, at best, neglectful. It caused a considerable rift in my family (at least my mother, sister and brother were on my side).

[lightreads]

Well I should hope it caused a rift! And that you guys were able to get past it, to the extent you wanted to.

My mother has already said...things. And I'm not even keeping the baby! I have made a bet with myself about how many horrible things will be said to me by one medical professional or another along the way...