Did Sarah Palin Endanger the Life of Her Fifth Child? Or is the Swirling Rumor True? Read on...

[babsbunny]

It's One or the Other.

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Sun, 08/31/2008 - 7:46am. Alerts

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

Here is the Rumor: Okay, It's a Sleazy Rumor that Palin Hid the Alleged Pregnancy of Her Daughter, Down in the Gutter. But This is Certainly a Curious Item from a Texas Paper in April Then, And Almost Inexplicable Considering Palin Allegedly Broke Her Bag of Water in Texas While at a Conference, But Insisted on Flying Back to Alaska to Deliver the Child After Giving a Speech. Now, That's Mighty Curious, Could Have Even Endangered the Child...Well, If It Was Her Child. This is a Real Story from a Real Texas Paper.

Here is the fact from a the Texas Ft. Worth-Telegram in April:

From Alaskan NBC affiliate KTUU:

Just yesterday, Palin was in Texas at a forum on energy with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and executives from four other states.

The governor's water broke during the energy conference but she stayed and gave a 30-minute speech before boarding an Alaska Airlines plane home to deliver the baby.

Palin gave birth to Trig Paxson Van Palin Friday at 6:30 a.m.

No word on why Palin was so determined to make sure young Trig wasn't born a Texan.

[liberal N proud]

1. Child endangerment

If not, she is lying

[demo dutch]

3. Posted links on this yesterday at this link - Definite poor judgement

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6832113&mesg_id=6832113

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Can we stop these things?

We're beginning to:

1. Sound like chauvinists
2. be that that we despise
3. undermine mothers everywhere in their choices.

Seriously, it is offensive to the many,many mothers here.

[demo dutch]

6. No because it illustrates Palin's poor judgement - risk baby's life & travel 11 hrs while in labor,

that's what it's about POOR JUDGEMENT!
see my post of yesterday
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6832113&mesg_id=6832113

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. It appears to be speculation.

Guess what? My water broke 24 hours before the birth of my son. I guess I suffer from poor judgement as well. Let's not be the people that we rail against.

[No Elephants]

15. What does when your water broke have to do with anything? Did you get on a plane for 12 hours?

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. No, but I did think I was peeing and thought nothing of it.

Which, in due course endangered the life of my son. Something I still feel sick about but also feel is no one else's business. Had I knowingly had my water break and been 12 hours away from my dr? You bet your ass I would. Make of it what you will. I find I don't give much of a shit what people have not one iota of an idea "think" anymore.

[demo dutch]

16. Her poor judgement was in the fact that she did not go to the local hospital

to be monitored, knowing that child is disabled will be born premature, & uwas nderweight.

Look here's the argument
Quote...
Palin made the decision to travel to Texas to a Governor's conference while 36 weeks pregnant, a time during which obstetricians would tell you it’s foolish to travel via plane. Air travel is a known risk for pregnancy complications, which is indeed what happened. The governor, while on a self-promoting trip to deliver a speech, had premature rupture of fetal membranes: her water broke.

Call your local OB department and ask what to do if you think that your water has broken. You’ll be advised to seek an immediate hands-on examination by an obstetrician. The baby will be placed on a monitor to make sure it’s OK. Premature rupture of membranes can lead to life-threatening infection and premature delivery.

What did Sarah Palin do? She did NOT go to a local hospital and did NOT have her baby checked on a fetal monitor to make sure it was OK. She called her family practice doctor in Alaska for advice. What advice was given isn’t clear, but it’s clearly quoted that she "did not ask for a medical OK to fly". Whether it was OK to fly should be the FIRST question anyone considering traveling by air should have, if they were at all interested in protecting the life of the unborn. Regardless, she decided to give her speech at the conference without having any evaluation other than the long-distance advice of a family practitioner. Her speech was more important to her than making any effort to make sure her unborn child was OK. Then, she decided to fly back to Alaska, an 11-hour trip. In addition, she failed to inform flight personnel that her water had broken.

Airlines are unequipped to handle most emergencies at 30,000 feet, particularly the kind Palin put her unborn child at markedly increased risk for. These emergencies include birthing a premature infant or uncontrolled maternal bleeding. This was her FIFTH pregnancy and delivery can happen rapidly and unexpectedly. The baby or Palin could easily have died.

In the ADN article Palin downplays her decision to fly, implying traveling was reasonable as she wasn't in labor. If so, then why was she immediately hospitalized after returning to Alaska? Why was there an induced delivery of a 36-week infant by 6:30 am soon after her return? Again, ask any OB doctor. Induced delivery of a premature infant ALWAYS indicates a problem. The two most likely would be fetal infection, (a likely event given her failure to seek meaningful medical attention for her baby) or fetal distress by monitor.

Ask your OB doctor if the risks Palin took with the life of her unborn child are risks they would have advised for ANY reason. Then ask yourself whether Palin is truly pro-life, or only pro-Palin

[marylanddem]

21. The whole story screams cover-up for her daughter.

She was at the conference when she got word her daughter was in labor. No one would go through what she supposedly went through. She lied.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. I'm a mother and it's not the least bit offensive to me.

Not all mothers are good mothers. Not all mothers are honest and sincere.

Sarah Palin, before she's a woman and a mother, is a HUMAN BEING. She is as likely to make mistakes and tell lies and screw up as anyone else, and we have the same right to know about it as if she were a man.

Motherhood does NOT innoculate one against the consequences of deception.


Tansy Gold, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Sorry,Tansy...so am I (2 kids) and am completely sick of our behavior

on this pregnancy. My water broke a full 24 hours before I realized it, possibly endangering my son. This actually happened. With Sarah Palin, we're not even sure it happened and yet we run with it. It is sick.

[demo dutch]

18. Fair enough, but she is the VP pick! it screams poor judgement to get on a plane

for 11 hrs while in labor and not disclosing to the airline what state she was in, knowing the baby was premature & disabled, risk infection

Look... Palin made the decision to travel to Texas to a Governor's conference while 36 weeks pregnant, a time during which obstetricians would tell you it’s foolish to travel via plane. Air travel is a known risk for pregnancy complications, which is indeed what happened. The governor, while on a self-promoting trip to deliver a speech, had premature rupture of fetal membranes: her water broke.

Call your local OB department and ask what to do if you think that your water has broken. You’ll be advised to seek an immediate hands-on examination by an obstetrician. The baby will be placed on a monitor to make sure it’s OK. Premature rupture of membranes can lead to life-threatening infection and premature delivery.

What did Sarah Palin do? She did NOT go to a local hospital and did NOT have her baby checked on a fetal monitor to make sure it was OK. She called her family practice doctor in Alaska for advice. What advice was given isn’t clear, but it’s clearly quoted that she "did not ask for a medical OK to fly". Whether it was OK to fly should be the FIRST question anyone considering traveling by air should have, if they were at all interested in protecting the life of the unborn. Regardless, she decided to give her speech at the conference without having any evaluation other than the long-distance advice of a family practitioner. Her speech was more important to her than making any effort to make sure her unborn child was OK. Then, she decided to fly back to Alaska, an 11-hour trip. In addition, she failed to inform flight personnel that her water had broken.

Airlines are unequipped to handle most emergencies at 30,000 feet, particularly the kind Palin put her unborn child at markedly increased risk for. These emergencies include birthing a premature infant or uncontrolled maternal bleeding. This was her FIFTH pregnancy and delivery can happen rapidly and unexpectedly. The baby or Palin could easily have died.

In the ADN article Palin downplays her decision to fly, implying traveling was reasonable as she wasn't in labor. If so, then why was she immediately hospitalized after returning to Alaska? Why was there an induced delivery of a 36-week infant by 6:30 am soon after her return? Again, ask any OB doctor. Induced delivery of a premature infant ALWAYS indicates a problem. The two most likely would be fetal infection, (a likely event given her failure to seek meaningful medical attention for her baby) or fetal distress by monitor.

Ask your OB doctor if the risks Palin took with the life of her unborn child are risks they would have advised for ANY reason. Then ask yourself whether Palin is truly pro-life, or only pro-Palin

[marylanddem]

10. Not to this mother and grandmother.

I am sick of people trying to teach me manners.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Feel free to place me on ignore because I intend to keep my opinions.

Which are also not worth the time when used as "manner lessons" here.


P.S. Not to "teach" you but ignore is the little red "x" at the top up there by my name... ;)

[MNDemNY]

20. Sorry, a VP candidate's choices are ALL far game.

[1Hippiechick]

35. And FAIR game, too! :) n/t

[Raven]

4. It would be interesting to know when her return flight was booked.

[1Hippiechick]

5. According to an Alaskan poster yesterday, there is a love/hate competitiveness between Alaska and

Texas, and that it would not have boded well for the Alaskan governor's baby to be born in Texas. Plus, it's being said that she stretched this story to build street cred about her toughness and dedication to the job.

[No Elephants]

19. so why did she go to Texas in the first place that late in her pregnancy.

[demo dutch]

31. Especially knowing the circumstances of her pregnancy!!!!!

[vaberella]

8. It's a damn rumor. It's her child and she can do what she wants.

Would you want someone telling you what you how to raise your kids?! Probably not. Of course she does for a living. However, if we're pro-choice and believe in women's independence we don't begrudge her nonsense.

Leave This Alone!!

This is not to deal with us, if you need to focus on her, focus on her issues and policies.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. FINALLY... Common Sense... I'm off to hide all these stupid posts now.

:yourock:

[marylanddem]

I wish people would stop trying to stop the conversation

about a legitimate issue: possible hypocrisy and lying and cover-up to further one's own political career.

[No Elephants]

23. The 12 hour flight is NOT a rumor. Either she lied or she risked a baby's life. Either alternative

most defintely is the business of the American people.

[Frank Cannon]

27. She endangered her child's life, plain and simple

Assuming she can be believed.

This is the human equivalent of Mitt Romney strapping his dog to the roof of the car while his family went on vacation. In fact, I think I saw more outrage and ridicule of that on this board than this. I'll bet even you were more outraged by the dog incident. It figures.

[demo dutch]

32. Not a rumor check this discussion and article in Anchorage Daily news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6845124&mesg_id=6845245

[rsmith6621]

14. I Know Someone who works in PAX Services at Alaska Airlines

An they said if they had any hints or indication that a PAX had broke water or started contraction they would be denied boarding no matter who they are.....She would have had to change planes in Seattle/Portland Or the total flight time would have been around seven hours plus 45 minutes to change planes.

Airlines will not take a chance on a diversion that will cost them 10-15 thousand buckeroos just because they are the Gov of Alaska....

My friend is looking into the validity of this to see if this is consistent as reported.

[marylanddem]

17. Good. It is a very bizarre story.

[demo dutch]

22. That's why Sarah NEVER told the airline what her situation was!!!!

[No Elephants]

26. How do you know that? And when was the last time you were in labor?

[demo dutch]

29. It's been written about extensively in the Anchorage Daily News!

http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html

Palin made the decision to travel to Texas to a Governor's conference while 36 weeks pregnant, a time during which obstetricians would tell you it’s foolish to travel via plane. Air travel is a known risk for pregnancy complications, which is indeed what happened. The governor, while on a self-promoting trip to deliver a speech, had premature rupture of fetal membranes: her water broke.

Call your local OB department and ask what to do if you think that your water has broken. You’ll be advised to seek an immediate hands-on examination by an obstetrician. The baby will be placed on a monitor to make sure it’s OK. Premature rupture of membranes can lead to life-threatening infection and premature delivery.

What did Sarah Palin do? She did NOT go to a local hospital and did NOT have her baby checked on a fetal monitor to make sure it was OK. She called her family practice doctor in Alaska for advice. What advice was given isn’t clear, but it’s clearly quoted that she "did not ask for a medical OK to fly". Whether it was OK to fly should be the FIRST question anyone considering traveling by air should have, if they were at all interested in protecting the life of the unborn. Regardless, she decided to give her speech at the conference without having any evaluation other than the long-distance advice of a family practitioner. Her speech was more important to her than making any effort to make sure her unborn child was OK. Then, she decided to fly back to Alaska, an 11-hour trip. In addition, she failed to inform flight personnel that her water had broken.

Airlines are unequipped to handle most emergencies at 30,000 feet, particularly the kind Palin put her unborn child at markedly increased risk for. These emergencies include birthing a premature infant or uncontrolled maternal bleeding. This was her FIFTH pregnancy and delivery can happen rapidly and unexpectedly. The baby or Palin could easily have died.

In the ADN article Palin downplays her decision to fly, implying traveling was reasonable as she wasn't in labor. If so, then why was she immediately hospitalized after returning to Alaska? Why was there an induced delivery of a 36-week infant by 6:30 am soon after her return? Again, ask any OB doctor. Induced delivery of a premature infant ALWAYS indicates a problem. The two most likely would be fetal infection, (a likely event given her failure to seek meaningful medical attention for her baby) or fetal distress by monitor.

Ask your OB doctor if the risks Palin took with the life of her unborn child are risks they would have advised for ANY reason. Then ask yourself whether Palin is truly pro-life, or only pro-Palin.

[1Hippiechick]

36. Please update here when you find out - hopefully before the Rethugs can alter info. n/t

[JoFerret]

24. If true

then comes under the category of "parents will do anything to protect their children".

Plus:Isn't it wonderful- we can elect a vp with a family as dysfunctional and crazy as the rest of America. See - she's just like "us".

Time to leave this to the National Enquirer.

[demo dutch]

30. It's true!

http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html

see the discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6845124&mesg_id=6845245

[styersc]

25. Anyone trying to end a pregnancy would have acted this way.

Its horrible to say but one should remember two things:

1). This child came to her late in life and was already a fragile situation. A friend in a similar situation had to lie on a couch for two six month periods during two pregnancies. When in the middle of a weak pregnancy, sometimes you have to be extraordinarily careful- not run around the country on a speaking tour.

2). This child was born prematurely. When her water broke, it was early- this was an emergency situation if she was twenty-two and her second child. She was in her 40's with a child already diagnosed as having problems. She did nothing to save this child.

All of that being said, the most important aspect of all of this in regards to Democratic politics and progressive ideology is that none of this is any of our damned business. We believe that these are too personal and private a situation to be fodder for governement intervention or public discussion. We believe that her decision, to keep or end this pregnancy is none of our business.

Her public "Anti-Choice" positions makes these unfortunate topics of conversation and blogging.

[marylanddem]

28. I just LOVE

all the defenders of Sarah Palin that are popping up on DU posts - gee, trying to snuff out another story dealing with Republican hypocrisy, are we? And puhleeze don't tell me we're too good for this. If the woman is a lying hypocrite we need to get the story out there.

[bluedeminredstate]

33. One aspect of the situation that hasn't been mentioned

If her water had broken as she said, and "leaking amniotic fluid" is the same thing, then infecrion is not the only complication that can arise from this situation.

In my labor and delivery class in nursing school it was drummed into us that the rupture of membranes is a possible medical emergency that must be addressed as soon as it happens so the mother and baby can be monitored for distress and or infection. Amniotic fluid cushions the baby and keeps the baby safe until delivery. A uterus without adequate amniotic fluid can compromise the baby's survival by making it more likely that the umbilical cord can get wrapped around the baby's neck or become compressed which would deprive the baby of oxygen. The fluid "floats" the cord and leaking fluid can present a serious situation if not monitored properly.

Palin should have gone to a hospital asap where she would have been hooked up to a fetal monitor which would show if the baby was getting enough oxygen or was going into distress. Any number of measures can be taken to correct the situation if the monitor shows fetal distress. Waiting 10 or 12 hours to get medical attention in another state accessible only by airplane was just plain stupid and irresponsible.

[valerief]

34. Broke her BAG of water? Is that a regional expression? nt

[Bucky]

37. They got one thing right: it's a "sleazy rumor"

[Ichingcarpenter]

38. I'm glad the story is getting play, because no matter what happened

It calls into questions of her judgement and temperament.

[baldguy]

39. Lets assume that the official story is true.

What Palin KNEW-

- She was having a high risk pregnancy

- It was complicated due to the fetus' Downs Syndrome


Yet, she took chances and engaged in risky behaviors -

- traveled extensively

- drank coffee (and alcohol?)

- continued to exercise vigorously

- lived in close proximity to a family member with a highly contagious disease


And when she was at the Governors' meeting in Texas -

- her water broke

- THEN she proceeded to give a half hour presentation

- After which she took an 11-hr flight back to Alaska


Did I miss anything?