interesting statistic, considering recent news

[novapsyche]

health authorities have long advised that all women of childbearing age take a daily vitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid — even if they're not trying to conceive, since half of pregnancies are unplanned.

-- Folic acid offers more protection than thought, emphasis mine.

Comments

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

nodnod. I certainly take one for that reason. (based on my dotcor's advise when I expressed fear about an unplanned pregnancy)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

*nod* Indeed.

Also, regarding the renewed debate about abortion, to me this statistic adds much more weight to the pro-choice side. No one should be able to hold that many people hostage, which to me is what forced pregnancy is.

[pigfish.livejournal.com]

There was a movement maybe 2 years ago to consider all women of childbearing age "prepregant" and recommend that they not drink at all, or smoke, and that they take prenatal vitamins. I, on the other hand, deeply resent being viewed as a uterus with legs.

I'm also curious how the 'half unplanned' statistic was mined. I have a friend who recently got pregnant and though she and her husband were not "trying" (and fully intended to have kids in the next several years) they were not using birth control of any kind either... does that count as unplanned?

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I distinctly remember that movement, too. I resented it just as much.

I don't know how that stat was generated. As for your example, I would count that as unplanned. It would be a surprise for the pregnancy to turn up, I assume, and surprise babies (I was one) are by definition not expected.