Been awhile. Trust me, I have had a hundred thoughts that I should have blogged, but these are strange times, and I am finding it hard to adjust.
However, strange times should not mean compromised health care. In fact, strange times should really mean increased health care, because, holy cow, folks are feeling this lock down crap physically, and mentally. Sadly, health care has gone down the toilet. At least in British Columbia, but I imagine the rest of the country is just as screwed. You no longer get to see your Dr. instead you have a phone call. You likely suffer with aliments hoping they go away, instead of darkening the hallways of ERs. You know those poor elderly folks who have nothing more than a visit to look forwards to break their monotony, have had those taken away, as precautions..although, clearly with the amount of elders passing because of COVID, this isn't making a lick of difference, they simply suffer alone.
Today, I went to the pharmacy. It is indeed winter. The snow was falling, it is cold, and I stood outside in a line up with others , some 15 years my senior (yep I am old) waiting for our turn to go inside and get our prescriptions. Hey, I can still handle the cold, but, my thoughts were with the elders, and although my heart told me to let them go ahead, my cold feet talked me out of it. That is so healthy, eh? Let them stand outside, maybe they won't get Covid, but they might get a cold??
That aside, there has been a medical issue that has blown my mind. Now, Fort St John has a nice new hospital. Must have cost a fortune! The building is swell, the service, well..that is a different matter. I doubt anyone outside the area has a clue how shoddy Fort St John hospital is, and I for one am grateful for the hospital in my area, because although it isn't nearly as fancy, we are treated far better than those in Fort St John. I cringe when I read complaints about this hospital, people here are very lucky, check out FSJ and count your blessings.
My grand daughter is about to become a mother. She will give birth more than 40 years after I had my first child. Oh, she has all sorts of ultra sound pictures , knows the sex of the child, knows how much he weighs..all things that were not possible back when I had her mother. Technology is amazing, right? However, with the brand new hospital, and all the fancy equiptment, she is unable to give birth in FSJ. She must travel (9 months pregnant) in the middle of winter, to the neighbouring province of Alberta, to have her child!!! Not only that, she must try and get there 2 weeks before the possible due date, and stay in a hotel! One wonders how many folks during these times have a chunk of money set aside to pay for the costs..sure medical is "free" in B.C. but hotels and meals are not!! Oh and fuel is pricey, as well. Yep, some women can indeed give birth in FSJ, but..here it comes....not if they pass a weight limit requirement. Yep..you got it, she put on too much weight during pregnancy, so they refuse to allow her to have a child in their hospital!!
I listen to folks screech discrimination for race, creed and colour,disability, oh and financial standing, but...not very often does one hear "fat" shaming delivered by medical professionals. What was she suppose to do, go on a serious diet when she began to reach the magic weight? This is simply bizarre!
How the hell was it possible back in the dark ages for women to give birth in any hospital in the country? I doubt folks are aware that there are large amounts of hospitals that refuse child birth. Chetwynd is another, women must head off to Dawson Creek to have a baby. So it is not just little tiny hole in the wall places, it is places with decent populations. However, Chetwynd in certainly not the city sized FSJ, so..maybe there is a magic number for allowing births in localities? Any how, pregnancy is a stressful time, generally, but why not have the health authorities dump a shit ton more stress by sticking a weight limit on the process? Lets ensure full term women get in their vehicles and travel 4 hours down the icy highway to have their child born in a different province? What, in all of this, makes a lick of sense? Yes FSJ has an OBGYN. They ensured a lovely birthing center was part of the nice new hospital, but that is only for those who remain within the mandatory weight limits. New rules, only slim folks need reproduce..otherwise if you have not found your way to the next province and settled into a hotel, you will be flown there if you dare go into labour!!
O.K. I know, I am not a medically knowledgeable person, but, if there are no underlying issues with a pregnant woman, besides passing the weight limit, why the heck should they not be able to stay locally?
One tidbit of reasoning given for this rule, was the fact that the anesthesiologist will not assist with fluffy females. So, if they do run into problems and perhaps a C-section is needed, he will not perform . O.K. folks, so..we are talking about child birth, is this his rule with any other medical procedures on larger humans? I am not sure of that answer, but..clearly if this professional is limited to specific weights . perhaps it is time to find another who can calculate the extra dose for the extra lbs.?
So, along with some exciting photos before my grandson makes his entrance, we have to keep our fingers and toes crossed that his mother does not go into early labour in the middle of a winter storm, causing a rushed drive to Alberta, putting them all in danger. No uunecessary travel with Covid, but, lets send folks out of B.C. to have a baby!! It just boggles my mind. We have come so far since the 80's with child birth, yet, clearly we have taken huge steps backwards, due to Northern Health and their insane regulations.
So..in case there is anyone out there considering getting a bun in their oven..best check your weight, and perhaps go on a diet before you take the plunge. You don't want to exceed the weight limits!
