My heart sank yesterday when I heard the news that the Motherisk program had been shut down, effective immediately. During two very difficult pregnancies, I relied heavily on Motherisk resources, including their national phone helplines that offered support and safety information to women who were pregnant or breastfeeding.
Since its inception in 1985, Motherisk has counselled nearly a million expectant mothers across Canada and provided research-based information to many doctors and nurses. According to the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto, which ran the Motherisk program, demand for their services had not slowed down. As of yesterday?s announcement, the two helplines were still receiving close to 200 calls a day.
Pregnancy can be an incredibly vulnerable time for women, which I learned first-hand. Both of my pregnancies were rough. And I don?t mean ?rough? as in I was super-tired and had terrible heartburn; I mean rough in that I was severely nauseated, vomited relentlessly and was unable to function. At first, my morning sickness seemed to be typical first trimester nausea, but within a few weeks, my symptoms worsened significantly. I threw up so violently it tore muscles in my abdomen, my blood pressure was dangerously low and I was losing weight fast. So much for that ?pregnancy glow??I was a wreck, and I needed help.
My family doctor smiled dismissively and said I could take Gravol if I wanted. (It did nothing.) A relative said the weight loss looked...