As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to review the new federal health care law's requirements for contraceptive insurance, California Attorney General Kamala Harris is urging the court not to let corporate executives invoke their religious beliefs to deny birth-control coverage to female employees...Can anyone explain to me how access to contraceptives is critical to the health of infants? Is not the only reasonable argument exactly the opposite of that???
Access to contraceptives, the state lawyers said, "is critical to the health of women and infants, women's economic and social well-being, and women's opportunities to participate fully in society." (boldface mine--Darren)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Stupidity In Print
Wherever you fall regarding mandating health insurance-covered contraception, you have to agree that this is absolutely a stupid statement to make:
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9 comments:
Hm, you could probably make a minor argument that spacing out births to two years or more results in healthier infants than yearly births do, since a mother's body takes a year or so to build back up after a birth (minerals and whatnot). How's that?
A stretch and contortion too far.
Because pregnancy often causes a mother's breastmilk to dry up, which would require an early weaning. Early weaning can contribute to a number of issues.
Additionally, an unplanned pregnancy can have a huge negative financial impact on a family... Which can affect health care, baby food purchases (remember the early weaning? Formula is a breastmilk substitute, which is not as nutrious.)
Pregnancy hormones negatively impact breastmilk production, leading to early weaning. That means formula, which is not as healthy. Formula babies, in general, tend to have more health problems. (Ear infections, asthma, weight problems, digestive issues)
Also, unplanned pregnancies cause financial strain. That means less money for health care. Additionally, stressed parents are less responsive and less nurturing, leading to more emotional and behavioral issues in children.
Jean, may I point out something:
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to review the new federal health care law's requirements for contraceptive insurance, California Attorney General Kamala Harris is urging the court not to let corporate executives invoke their religious beliefs to deny birth-control coverage to female employees…
There is no issue of rights or health here. You do not have a right to employer provided health care and the federal government has no business mandating the component of any type of health care package they don't pay for (e.g. Medicaid or the military's TRICARE)
If you want to use the pill to space your births out to two years or more, fine. But it's not the prerogative of HHS to tell a private employer how he must fund a fringe benefit of employment.
Elaine, if you think that is what Kamala Harris was implying, OK.
I remember when mothers were urged to use formula. I guess the science wasn't settled? :-)
It was actually a huge marketing campaign... And is still a major blocker to mother's being able to nurse their children - to the point that most moms don't make it to even 3 months, much less the recommended 2+ years.
It's especially bad here in the US, because it caused a shift in social values, to the point where most mom's have had to deal with some form of harassment simply for feeding their babies.
Urging formula wasn't a health care concern ... it was a here's how we get moms back to work concern. The larger concern is, why would you let religion ( a series of fairy tales some people believe in) have any say in health care provision (an actual science whose results are demonstrable until proven false). Harris' statement is not the best case I've heard... but then again, the fact that she needs to make one is ridiculous.
The funny thing is... In terms of productive new moms, supporting moms in pumping actually is more beneficial to the business than formulas feeding. Breastmilk fed babies get sick less often, causing mom to take less time off work. Additionally, moms who breastfeed get more sleep, and more restful sleep (especially if they cosleep safely) than moms who use formula.
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