I was fascinated after reading Kelly's blog about 4D sonograms. I am one of eight children, so I am familiar with the apparently "old school" black and white fuzzy images that my mother used to present to us proudly with every pregnancy. (We still laugh about the sonogram picture of youngest brother Aidan that bore a striking resemblance to Elmer Fudd.) The idea that expectant parents can see their babies in such detail may seem excessive or unnecessary at first. But to some, like Kelly's husband who is serving in Iraq and is able to see digital images of his growing baby girl from thousands of miles away, the 4D sonogram technology is both heartwarming and beneficial.
My only question is why the FDA wouldn't fully approve of the 4D sonogram--could it pose any harm for those who chose to get one? Is it not officially approved just because it has no medical relation and neither helps nor hinders the mother?
To be honest, I replied to this particular blog entry because I have pregnancy on the mind. Good gracious, not for me, personally, but because I recently heard that it is physically (and medically) possible for a man to carry a baby up to 3 months of a pregnancy! As I looked into it, I found myself on the website of the RYT Hospital-Dwayne Medical Center, the center treating the first pregnant male, Lee Mengwei. According to the website, the RYT Center has been working to establish a viable method for successfully impregnating males ever since the first "test-tube baby" was born in the late 70s.
First, doctors administered oral hormones to ensure Mr. Lee's body would be receptive to the pregnancy. Then, using in vitro fertilization, an embryo and placenta were implanted into Mr. Lee's lower abdominal cavity, where he currently carries the healthy, growing fetus. Anyone interested can log onto the website and see recent photos, read Mr. Lee's pregnancy journal and even check his recent vitals. Though a due date has not been released, the delivery will take place in the form of a Cesarean C-Section open surgery. Removal of the placenta is said to be one of the most dangerous procedures, and can lead to hemorrhaging and serious damage to internal organs.
The RYT Center is not accepting any new patients for the procedure, explaining that "male pregnancy is still in its experimental phase and will not be available to the public in the immediate future." A big relief, because I know a few guys who are just dying to experience child birth, no matter the form.
Honestly, do men need to have babies? Is it essential? Whether you are an Evolutionist or a Creationist, you must believe that somehow human females were deemed the child-bearers, why mess with nature? If you ask me--despite the fact that it's kind of cool that Arnold's "Junior" may be becoming a reality-- any time, money and energy put into this kind of research is not well spent. With the statistics of diseases such as breast cancer--1 in 8 women experience the disease-- our society cannot afford to pour money down the drain just so working women can side-step morning sickness. It's all part of the beautiful and scary process of pregnancy, its its raw, natural form.
Most of all, it looks gross--sorry guys. Spend your time paying for your wives to get 4D sonograms and you can continue to enjoy the wonders of pregnancy from at least a few feet away rather than inside your own body.
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