1. With the current birth climate: 99% of birth happening in hospitals, 90% of those using epidurals, rampant artificial labour (induction/augmentation), 30%+ c-section rate... we're already living in a brave new world but I suspect it's not so brave.

I thought it was important to point out that artificial or augmented fertility is and will only be available for the monied classes. I have a colleague who was recently told she had about 7 viable eggs left (in her early 30s) and that entry level type augmented fertility, which is costing her around $100/mth , probably won't work. The next level of augmentation is in the thousands per month. And that's chemical augmentation. That's not even approaching the tens of thousands a couple could pay to do IVF.

So, while the rich get richer and weirder, they may opt to remove the humanism from childbirth, it'll never be total.

Huxley was British wasn't he? Meaning his med establishment is the NHS. It's more likely that this could happen in socialized medicine, never in a healthcare for profit system like the US's.

Posted at 1:42PM on Jul 19th 2008 by mamaloo

2. I tend to disagree that only the "monied" classes will have access to IVF, and other augmented fertility treatments. We are military and have decent healthcare. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome/Disease and went through fertility treatment for years and the insurance picked up the tab. I did hundreds of hormone tests, injections, tube tests, multiple miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, IVF and other augmented treatments; and, we are no where near rich or weird. We have a qualifying medical condition that ensures that we get treatment for infertility as well as the other miserable symptoms of this condition. So, yes, if you have a legitimate medical condition you can qualify for treatment.

And just so you know that the military is not the only ones who qualify, my Aunt has Endometrosis she is a hospital hospitality assistant (food carts) and her hubby is an electrician and she qualified through his insurance for fertility treatments as well.

O' and we both received high risk OB's for the duration of our pregnancies. And, just so you don't think I took the easy way out on any of the situations . . . I had 3 painful second trimester miscarriages, one which was an ectopic and a uterine (twins) and then birthed all three all natural (other than having to be induced due to medical necessity . . . baby heart rate dropping and the other was 4 weeks late).


And I want to be sure you understand augmented births are not easy . . .they are full of painful shots, tests and weeks of unknowing of whether you are pregnant, will ever get pregnant, or if you will lose this baby too.

So do a little more research on the causes of infertility and the processes of success and emotional and physical pain before you make such blatant statements like it is an upper class, easy choice, and easy way out.

I am not saying that a future of unborn baby testing/experiments are right and I will fight them with any petition that comes available . . . but new ways of ensuring that the female body operates hormonally correctly or actually create the possibility for women to birth that otherwise would be naturally barren is wonderful and I believe a blessing.

Sorry for sounding so angry in the first portion . . . I just do not like over generalizations in such a personally and socially sensitive arena.

Posted at 2:01PM on Jul 19th 2008 by ltmslov

3. You are very lucky to be working in a job that provides insurance or pays you enough so that you can afford it.

There are huge numbers of people on public insurance that probably wouldn't get the same coverage, as well as a huge group of working poor who can't afford insurance, or whose insurance would not cover full costs of augmented or artificial fertility.

When you look at a system like Canada's where the drugs are slightly subsidized, even entry level fertility augmentation is a burden many families couldn't bear financially.

As a birth worker, I am well aware of the realities of high risk OB patients. I work with them regularly. The stats above do not reflect the stats of true high risk birth. Artificial labour, surgical birth and the overuse of pain meds in labour is an iatrogenic problem.

Health care for the unhealthy is wonderful, creating sickness in the healthy is not.

Posted at 2:12PM on Jul 19th 2008 by mamaloo

4. Thank you for your clarification. . .

Posted at 2:50PM on Jul 19th 2008 by ltmslov

5. As someone who went through a literal hell having a child... I am honestly crossing my fingers and seriously hoping they can manage to get some sort of artificial womb up and working here soon.

Instead of thinking about it in Brave New World terms - think of how many babies who were born prematurely could be saved. How many could survive without suffering brain damage. How many could make it without residual disabilities.

If the Brave New World kicks in for those with enough money to invest in it - good for them.

I`m much more concerned with how it will help normal people - and help babies born like my son.

Posted at 1:52PM on Jul 19th 2008 by Tamyu

6. Anything that will make progress toward eliminating genetic disorders should be overwhelmingly supported. In this era of advanced medicine the fact that children still must go through life suffering from debilitating diseases that were given to them by their parents is unacceptable.

Posted at 9:25AM on Jul 29th 2008 by fran