I think one thing I’d add is the often physically destructive effects of pregnancy and birth, especially for women of color. Will Trump and Musk work to reduce maternal morbidity & mortality? Will they provide pelvic floor PT to repair our bodies?
Same! I'm an over 40 first time mom (and solo mom-by-choice). I have frozen embryos, but I can't risk my health or having to go on leave for bed rest, etc.
I know they purportedly want a higher birth rate in part because some of these jokers are worried about replacement theory (gag). But that is only one sector-- I think the oligarchs are harnessing the power of Christian nationalism to promote forced birth as a way to create a new crop of wage slaves.
I work in OB, and forced birth will have a VERY quick effect- another 15 years and there will be a generation of lower-income children entering the workforce. In states where they are trying to lower the age so child labor is legal, perhaps sooner. There is a capitalist agenda here that is dovetailing with and using the Dominionist and Christian fascist ideology.
Goes hand in hand with the 45 billion dollar project to build detention centers where there can be a free source of labor. Slavery doesn't end, it just shapeshifts slightly.
This is giving quiverfull movement, but sanitized for a more secular and capitalist audience. The kids from that movement are adults now and lots of them are telling their stories—and they aren’t pretty. Also, turns out having kids doesn’t magically make them do your religious and political bidding even if you try to indoctrinate them.
Anyway the barf emoji feels insufficient for all of this. We need to wake each other up before it’s too late.
I just wanted to pop in and say that Fertility Awareness Method is NOT the "rhythm method." (I don't know if that's what they really meant or not, but I do want women to know things!) Rhythm requires assuming that your periods are always of equal length, which is obviously not true. Charting your temperature and checking your cervical fluid can be highly effective. I reacted poorly to hormonal BC so I've used FAM both to conceive and to avoid conceiving. The "bible" for FAM is https://www.tcoyf.com/taking-charge-of-your-fertility/, and the author also has a shortened versions for tweens and teens to understand what the heck is going on. I really wish I had had it!
All that said, I would never say FAM is the best or ideal birth control. It's not *hard,* and it can be very affordable, but it requires consistency and diligence. The Oura ring can do a lot of that work for you, which is awesome, but it's also a lot more expensive than a $20 thermometer and a piece of paper.
But seriously. Women are not having fewer kids because they don't know how this works! 🤦🏻♀️
I'd add that they have also cancelled numerous federally funded grants related to women's health, reproductive health, and children's health. Research to improve maternal and child health would directly make pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing safer.
It's possible reading this made all my eggs dry up. We thought we'd have kids, but life and health considerations changed our minds. And let's not even talk about what raising a child involves once they are here.
It’s all so depressing. Women have been pushing for better access to options, more research on our bodies — and the male voices have perverted it to the women are sick because we’ve strayed away from their traditional forms of oppression 🫠
I am a mom to two kids that I adore. But gawwwd there’s no way in hell I loved being pregnant or giving birth. I fear for my daughter and will fight like hell to get her the reproductive healthcare she needs.
Given that my Catholic school sex ed was a nun telling us that "passionate kissing" would lead us down a road to babies and just to never have sex and avoid pregnancy at all costs until married, learning ANYTHING about ovulation and fertility would have been a step up?
But this is honestly so fucking yikes and makes me sick to my stomach. Going hand in hand with last week's "teen pregnancy, yay" take, this is all so fucked.
I'm sure the threat of or actually being unceremoniously fired from your job due to DOGE cuts will make people want to have/have more kids. Good plan guys! Although I guess that $5000 one time payment will make up for not being employed 😒
In Texas. I am afraid to have kids because a deadly pregnancy will be allowed to progress until I'm dead (abortion being completely outlawed here). Luckily I am 46 and pretty much out of the woods. But yeah cannot imagine risking pregnancy here, now.
I think one thing I’d add is the often physically destructive effects of pregnancy and birth, especially for women of color. Will Trump and Musk work to reduce maternal morbidity & mortality? Will they provide pelvic floor PT to repair our bodies?
THIS!! I would love to have another child. One of my reservations (of many) are the potential health risks to me and my child.
Same! I'm an over 40 first time mom (and solo mom-by-choice). I have frozen embryos, but I can't risk my health or having to go on leave for bed rest, etc.
Gosh you’re doing the work. Thank you for your service! (This is not sarcasm I’m just overly caffeinated and furious over these women hating asshats)
I know they purportedly want a higher birth rate in part because some of these jokers are worried about replacement theory (gag). But that is only one sector-- I think the oligarchs are harnessing the power of Christian nationalism to promote forced birth as a way to create a new crop of wage slaves.
I work in OB, and forced birth will have a VERY quick effect- another 15 years and there will be a generation of lower-income children entering the workforce. In states where they are trying to lower the age so child labor is legal, perhaps sooner. There is a capitalist agenda here that is dovetailing with and using the Dominionist and Christian fascist ideology.
Goes hand in hand with the 45 billion dollar project to build detention centers where there can be a free source of labor. Slavery doesn't end, it just shapeshifts slightly.
Can we call this movement what it is, coercive breeding? Pronatalism is too sugary.
I can tell you that the $5,000 baby bonus wouldn’t even cover my out-of-pocket hospital bill from my “very good, employer-funded” insurance.
This is so true!!
This is giving quiverfull movement, but sanitized for a more secular and capitalist audience. The kids from that movement are adults now and lots of them are telling their stories—and they aren’t pretty. Also, turns out having kids doesn’t magically make them do your religious and political bidding even if you try to indoctrinate them.
Anyway the barf emoji feels insufficient for all of this. We need to wake each other up before it’s too late.
Another reason women in the past had large families was to ensure labor to assist on family farms - another example that no longer exists.
I just wanted to pop in and say that Fertility Awareness Method is NOT the "rhythm method." (I don't know if that's what they really meant or not, but I do want women to know things!) Rhythm requires assuming that your periods are always of equal length, which is obviously not true. Charting your temperature and checking your cervical fluid can be highly effective. I reacted poorly to hormonal BC so I've used FAM both to conceive and to avoid conceiving. The "bible" for FAM is https://www.tcoyf.com/taking-charge-of-your-fertility/, and the author also has a shortened versions for tweens and teens to understand what the heck is going on. I really wish I had had it!
All that said, I would never say FAM is the best or ideal birth control. It's not *hard,* and it can be very affordable, but it requires consistency and diligence. The Oura ring can do a lot of that work for you, which is awesome, but it's also a lot more expensive than a $20 thermometer and a piece of paper.
But seriously. Women are not having fewer kids because they don't know how this works! 🤦🏻♀️
Jessica Valenti has called it "bro-natalism" and that could not be more disgustingly perfect.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jessica/p/pro-natalism-explainer-bro-natalist?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'd add that they have also cancelled numerous federally funded grants related to women's health, reproductive health, and children's health. Research to improve maternal and child health would directly make pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing safer.
As someone who does not like when people try to tell me what to do or how to be, these efforts actually make me want to become a parent less...
Also, pursuing "pleasure and drinking all night and going to Beyoncé concerts" does sound fun! I mean, I don't really drink, but besides that.
I had this same thought - telling me what to do makes me want to absolutely not do it!
It's possible reading this made all my eggs dry up. We thought we'd have kids, but life and health considerations changed our minds. And let's not even talk about what raising a child involves once they are here.
It’s all so depressing. Women have been pushing for better access to options, more research on our bodies — and the male voices have perverted it to the women are sick because we’ve strayed away from their traditional forms of oppression 🫠
I am a mom to two kids that I adore. But gawwwd there’s no way in hell I loved being pregnant or giving birth. I fear for my daughter and will fight like hell to get her the reproductive healthcare she needs.
Given that my Catholic school sex ed was a nun telling us that "passionate kissing" would lead us down a road to babies and just to never have sex and avoid pregnancy at all costs until married, learning ANYTHING about ovulation and fertility would have been a step up?
But this is honestly so fucking yikes and makes me sick to my stomach. Going hand in hand with last week's "teen pregnancy, yay" take, this is all so fucked.
I'm sure the threat of or actually being unceremoniously fired from your job due to DOGE cuts will make people want to have/have more kids. Good plan guys! Although I guess that $5000 one time payment will make up for not being employed 😒
In Texas. I am afraid to have kids because a deadly pregnancy will be allowed to progress until I'm dead (abortion being completely outlawed here). Luckily I am 46 and pretty much out of the woods. But yeah cannot imagine risking pregnancy here, now.