NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/kids/31014

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-22 | 2.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!news.tek.com!master!rosebud!judyd
From: [e-mail] (Judy E. Drake)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: "my wife and I are pregnant", revisited
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 22 Dec 92 18:00:54 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <31323@nntp_server.ems.cdc.com> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
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Organization: Tektronix, Inc. - Redmond, OR
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In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (The Idealistic Cynic) writes:
|> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Andrew Culhane) writes:
|> >
|> >Claimer: Most of my friends, acquaintances, health care professionals, and
|> >downright strangers were much more determined to downplay my role in the
|> >pregnancy than my wife and I were.
|>
|> What he said!
|>
|> *Everything* was in her name, regardless of which one of us talked to
|> the person involved -- even in the more liberal places, and even when
|> it was for information only!  If I called asking for information, they
|> wanted my wife's name.  Every time.  Seriously -- in not a single case
|> involved with the pregnancy did anything I requested or registered for
|> stay in my name; they *always* requested my wife's name and we were
|> registered by her name.

Well, in my case, I was pretty much the focal point of my pregnancies,
too, although the LaMaze and baby care classes we attended with the first
pregnancy were definitely directed equally towards both parents.  As far
as medical attention went, my husband was relegated to a secondary, yet
crucial role, which we both felt appropriate.  I don't think he ever felt
overlooked or left out (even when he really would rather have been left out,
i.e., for our first meconium diaper change, which took the two of us to
accomplish).

The thing that REALLY pissed me off, however, was that after _I`d_ registered
_myself_ at the hospital, after _I_ was the person admitted and the one who
stayed there overnight, after _my_ medical insurance was billed, the hospital
bill came addressed to HIM!!  I could not believe the neanderthal attitude
of this hospital's billing department.  I called to explain that my husband
had not incurred any expenses at the hospital, and as soon as _I_ received
_my_ bill for _my_ expenses, I'd pay it.  They told me they always send the
bill to the husband.  I told them that they'd better send the bill to me if
they wanted to get paid.

So... that's my experience.  As so often is the case, YMMV.

Judy Drake