Favors

[Casey_03]

I just need to vent. Basically, I'm halfway into my pregnancy, dealing with it entirely on my own, and where I live there is currently a swine flu epidemic. Swine flu, as some may know, can cause death or very serious complications in pregnant women, and they are often the first to catch it. Health officials here have said 70% of recent cases were pregnant women and some have already died. So naturally, I became concerned, as I have not been vaccinated for it. First off, I told my co-workers and my boss that I'd prefer to work from home to avoid exposure --- considering two of my colleagues sitting right next to me were sick for days and coughing on me as this epidemic was announced. My boss just rolled his eyes and called me a hypochondriac, my colleagues basically just laughed at me. I wasn't allowed to work from home. I did get sick immediately after my sick colleagues kept coughing on me, but it apparently wasn't swine flu. Now I have been home all weekend and sick, trying not to leave the house. And my friend messages to say she has just wound up in the hospital due to an infection from having her wisdom tooth removed. They wanted to keep her there to make sure the infection didn't spread. Nothing serious, but still unpleasant for her to be stuck there. Anyway, she asked me to bring her a bunch of things like socks, a toothbrush and soap, knowing that I am sick at home and pregnant. I struggled on deciding what to do with this one for a bit. The city has declared a quarantine over the epidemic and warned to stay away from public places, ESPECIALLY hospitals. My friend said her dad was planning to come to the hospital later on the same day she asked me to bring stuff, so I figured he could easily bring her what she needed rather than me doing it. I thought all this over and told her I couldn't do it. She got mad and offended. Now I feel incredibly guilty and like a jerk, and am wondering if I really am being selfish. I guess this is more a pregnancy issue than PTSD, but PTSD affects how I respond to such situations and how I feel about them afterwards. I just end up feeling guilty for doing things that I know in my head are perfectly understandable, but it seems like my friends don't see it that way. I feel the need to isolate so much more, not just from PTSD but to protect the baby from outside threats. And yet no one understands this and instead I just get vilified for doing it. People at work have mocked me for having a very valid concern about getting sick, and now my friends are increasingly starting to give me an attitude about what they see as my selfishness. What the hell. I though people were supposed to be understanding about pregnancy.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

You are putting baby's needs ahead of yourself. Nothing selfish at ALL about that. I also don't see anything unreasonable about your requests or your decision not to take stuff to your friend in the hospital. I wish every child had a mother as dedicated as you are.

 

[hodge]

I don't think you are being selfish, either. You are taking care of your baby. I'm sorry the people at work aren't more understanding of that. And your friend, too. You just keep taking care of yourself and your baby.

 

[Friday]

'Damn right I'm being selfish. We both are. My baby, your socks.'

People are idiots, Casey. & 99% of the time? What they're accusing others of? Is exactly what they're doing themselves. You've got your priorities straight. Good on.

 

[Ronin]

Damn right to be selfish.

You come first, no ifs or buts about it. You're kicking for two so make sure you're still kicking, safe & well.