Ending a pregnancy taboo: Lode Dewulf at TEDxBrusselsChange

[@Ceallai]

"Everything the pregnant woman does can harm the baby so she'd better not do anything" - being pregnant has made me so aware of this taboo! In fact, during my very first visit to the doctor where she confirmed I was pregnant, she warned me that people - friends, family, down to complete strangers - would tell me I was doing everything wrong, and that I had to be prepared to tell them, very firmly, to stop trying to scare me and that I'd get my pregnancy advice from my doctors, thanks very much! I thought she was exaggerating until someone told me not to lift my arms above my head because otherwise the baby's umbilical cord would wrap around its neck and strangle it... T_T

[@vibrantloki3999]

This man makes a fantastic argument against not only Taboos related to children and pregnancy. But also to Taboos in general. Not to mention I love his accent and how he says bebby

[@vickyrichardson5287]

Totally amazing talk. I definitely also feel like as a ‘women’s issue ‘ these problems in pregnancy are ignored. Women are told that paracetamol is the only safe pain killer. Even though it is proven to be ineffective for many pains in pregnancy. The same taboo surrounds breastfeeding. Women are put off breastfeeding because they are told not to eat or drink things that are unproven to be ok and to take medication also. There is also the attitude amongst some in medicine that women should stick it out. Pregnancy doesn’t last forever just wait and it will improve. We are people too who deserve healthcare.

[@sarahmertens3729]

Great story, innovative & groundbreaking, and cool presentation!

[@sbooontheroad]

Thank you Lode Dewulf for helping to break the silence and sensibilizing people on this topic. Your talk is very inspirational, it makes me wish to do something. What can I do to contribute? I would be happy to have the chance of doing something that would save one baby. What's next?

[@Laedeydra]

Awesome talk, thanks for sharing :)

[@dgmolenaar]

A truly groundbreaking initiative based on accepted principles in Evidence Based Medicine. It can improve clinical decision-making in pregnant women with (chronic) diseases.

[@kirandas2409]

Hi Nicholas, Thank you for the clarification. I had just raised a caution on what could go wrong. I do agree there is a need to address the issue scientifically. Moving the issue of safety of drugs in pregnancy on to a top priority in the scientific and medical community is a welcome move. KD

[@NicholasBrooke]

Hi Kiran, Just wanted to clarify there is no intention to randomly let people post information on a social media site. The call in this video is to first agree to put this issue on the table and discuss it, then to adress it in a scientific manner. Check pregnancytaboos(dot)org for more info and to discuss further if you wish. BR

[@alejalaiton]

Very nice!

[@kirandas2409]

Having people to add information on pregnancy onto a social media site and then evaluating that data to make decisions could be highly risky. A more deeper understanding and risk benefit evaluation is must before making such suggestions. I believe that when any body is pregnant and decides to take any drug it will be beneficial to have this information recorded in a scientific manner rather than thru a social media. The data can be reviewed by experts rather than common man make decisions.

[@ІринаПрокопенко-в3л]

In Ukraine, where in April 1986 Chernobyl exploded in 1986 there was a spike in fertility. In Ukraine, in 1985- 762,000 children were born, in 1986- 792,000 children, in 1987- 760,000 children.