I don't know if I should blame turning 31, being pregnant, or just plain being exasperated, but I am absolutely sick of all the whining people do about preventative medicine. Two things I repeatedly run into because of the pregnancy thing:
"Why should I get a flu shot? It's not even 100% effective!"
Because some of the flu's side effects include DEATH. And you getting vaccinated can help someone who can't be vaccinated avoid catching it, too. Because it is a nearly painless poke in the arm that you can get for cheap or even free. Because even if it's not 100% effective, it's usually north of 60% effective and that is a 2/3 better chance of you avoiding the flu. Because even if you catch one of the 40% of strains not covered, it can help prevent the most serious side effects which, didn't I say this already, include DEATH. Because your baby can't be vaccinated but if you get the vaccine, you pass antibodies on to help them when they're born. Because your baby could die of the flu. Because pregnant women are at high risk of contracting the flu to begin with AND their consequences are more severe.
"The gestational diabetes test is so awful. Why should I have to do it? I don't have diabetes!"
Because it's called GESTATIONAL diabetes for a reason - it's something that manifests while you are gestating, and it is your body's poor reaction to changes. There may be additional risk factors that up your chances of having it, but GD can and does effect women who are otherwise 100% healthy and "not at risk." Because the test takes 1 fucking hour of your time, you drink a drink and sit in a waiting room before having one little vial of blood taken, and that's it. Because if you DO have GD, and you don't know, the complications for your fetus include DEATH. If that's not enough for you, the most common side effect of GD is Giant Fucking Baby and that's going to tear the shit out of your insides.
WHY ARE WE ARGUING ABOUT THIS STUPID SHIT?
I'm not even getting on the general anti-vaxx rant, these things don't even fall under that umbrella (except for the people who complain about the stuff in the flu shot to which I say, guess what, they also make versions without that stuff even though that stuff is proven to not cause harm anyway). These are simple diagnostic/preventative measures that take virtually NO time, NO effort, NO money, prevent serious side effects (have I mentioned DEATH yet??) and... what, you can't fucking be inconvenienced? FUCK. YOU.