Front page news from the Thai Rath newspaper, issues dated August 23 and 27, 2016, in Prasat District, Surin Province
Mystery of twin children’s death discovered. A 22-year-old mother gave birth in the bathroom and claimed the babies died during birth. Relatives found out and helped take her to the hospital. The mother lost a lot of blood and fainted. Later, police investigation revealed that the mother confessed to killing both twins. She had a husband and two children but separated. When she had a new boyfriend, she got pregnant, but he didn’t take responsibility. She didn’t go for prenatal care because she was unemployed and feared she couldn’t support the child, leading to this decision.
Uncle Doctor thinks that if she had met a counselor, these outcomes could have been different, and she wouldn’t have been charged with murder.
Moreover, Uncle Doctor received news from a volunteer medical network that provides safe abortion services. A mother, nearly 6 months pregnant, with high pulmonary pressure and heart disease, experienced heart failure and had to terminate the pregnancy. Previously, this mother had her first prenatal visit at 8 weeks of pregnancy. The patient and relatives refused to terminate the pregnancy, causing a delay. Another case involved a mother with SLE or autoimmune disease, who experienced complications and died after childbirth.
Uncle Doctor wants to say that women with diseases that pose life-threatening risks during unplanned pregnancies include SLE, heart disease with valve abnormalities and complications, diabetes requiring insulin or with kidney/eye/brain complications, epilepsy, high blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg, ischemic heart disease, tuberculosis, etc. If you have these conditions, consult a doctor for proper contraception. If unplanned pregnancy occurs, consult a doctor as soon as possible, ideally before 8 weeks.
Uncle Doctor believes that women at different ages should have the right skills and behaviors for safe reproductive health care. Uncle Doctor has an example to share.
“Pam” (pseudonym), 17 years old, is studying in her second year of vocational school in hotel and tourism. Her parents separated 2-3 years ago. Her mother gives her 2,000 baht a month, sometimes late. Her father gives her 500 baht occasionally. Pam works to support herself as a PR at a restaurant. She has to make drinks when guests invite her to sit, requiring at least one drink per 45 minutes, at 100 baht per drink. She needs to make 30 drinks a week to earn 3,500 baht, but if she doesn’t meet the target, she gets deducted 100 baht per drink. Some nights, she only makes 2 drinks, earning no more than 7,000 baht a month. Guests also invite her for sex, but she declines as her earnings are sufficient.
Pam and her boyfriend use condoms about 30% of the time, relying on withdrawal for the rest. She took four urine tests and wasn’t pregnant. An ultrasound at a community health center revealed a 2-month pregnancy. She and her boyfriend decided they weren’t ready for a child as she had to intern at a hotel. She consulted a teacher, who advised her to see a doctor.
“I haven’t finished school. I want to study, have a good career, and earn a living. I have many unresolved issues and don’t want to raise a child yet. I want to support myself and my mother first,” Pam said. She admitted to failing in contraception. Uncle Doctor advised her that the mistake was due to lack of knowledge and skills, but after resolving the pregnancy issue, she should ensure proper contraception in the future.
The next person is “Kate” (pseudonym), 25 years old, studying for a master’s degree in educational administration. She is 2 months and 1 week pregnant (10 weeks and 1 day). She and her boyfriend have been together for 3 years, always using condoms. However, there was one rushed occasion without a condom, leading to sex. After this incident, she discovered her boyfriend had another woman. Despite his denial, Kate asked for honesty, and he eventually admitted, apologized, and chose the other woman, even though they were close to getting married.
Kate was very upset, consulted friends and her mother, and told her boyfriend about the pregnancy. He said they had broken up, and the pregnancy was her responsibility to consider.
“If I keep the baby, there will be many problems. The child grows every day and will face questions from others, causing us distress and leaving no way out.”
“The child will be teased for not having a father and asked where their father is.”
“I’m afraid my mother will be asked who her daughter got pregnant with, after all the effort to educate her. I’m worried my parents can’t handle it, and their mental state will suffer.”
“If this hadn’t happened to me, and if both families accepted it, I wouldn’t be hurt like this.”
“I can’t continue the pregnancy.”
“This decision comes from careful consideration.”
“Deep down, I’m afraid of sin, but if we have the child, they will face pressure. Aren’t we creating sin for them?”
From this story, Uncle Doctor believes women should consent to continue a pregnancy, and if they don’t want to, they should have the right to access abortion services. Incidents where mothers harm their children after birth should not happen again due to unwanted pregnancies.
With love and care,
Dr. Rueangkit Sirikanjanakul, RSA Network Coordinator