I'm truly pissed

Many might think that I'm being selfish in the way I feel, and that's fine....I, however, don't see it that way.

I'm 36 years old and pregnant. To the medical field, this outs me in a "high risk" category. There is no reason at all other than the fact that I'm over 35. I don't have any pre-existing conditions, my family medical history doesn't increase my baby's risk for defects any more than any other healthy mother of any age. Despite the"risks" of being of an advanced maternal age, I've not developed gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. I've not had abnormal contractions or anything. My pregnancy has been uneventful, as all mothers hope when they first see the "yes" on the digital pregnancy test.

Nonetheless, I was told yesterday that I gave to go to the hospital twice a week for non-stress tests to be sure the baby is ok. And I also have to have a weekly ultrasound there to check the Amniotic fluid level...the test is only valid for three days. Which shows that Amniotic fluid levels can fluctuate. This also means that this is going to add undue stress to my life, which I find completely unnecessary...and I have to do this every week until I deliver.

I do not like the way older women are treated by medical professionals in the area of obstetrics. I think it is discriminatory. There is no reason other than my age for al of this and I do not consider that a valid reason. My grandma had four healthy babies when she was OVER 40, back in the 60s and 70s. There were no special tests for older women back then. There is no biological switch that goes off at the age if 35 that makes a woman less likely to carry a baby to term. The fact is, only recently are more older women having babies....so I am basically part of the experiment. I'm an involuntary participant in a process that is collecting information about older expectant mothers. The findings will be that all this generic extra care is unnecessary for healthy older expectant mothers.

I am sick of this generic care. Each expectant mother, regardless of age, deserves to have individualized care based in her particular needs. If teachers have to teach children based on his/her individual needs, then why aren't doctors required to care for expectant mothers based in their individual needs?

It makes no sense to me.
I honestly think it is all about money. More tests = more money.
I'm not a statistic! I'm a woman with individual needs. I'm tired of being treated like another blank face in a crowd.

I'm so pissed. I think expectant women 35 and older need advocates. We need people who will speak up for us. I feel compelled to do this. I guess I should start with myself. Hopefully I can find my voice.

I want to deny the tests.
They aren't necessary. I hate hospitals. They make me nervous, so my stress levels are going to rise. How is this beneficial?

*grumble*